Delaware

Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Delaware

Name: MRI Brain Cost in Delaware (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Delaware's compact healthcare market, dominated by just three major health systems serving the entire First State, creates unique pricing dynamics for Brain MRI services. Patients typically pay between $98 and $596, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $340 based on negotiated insurance rates across 199 active Brain MRI providers statewide. Browse all providers in Delaware to compare costs and find the best option for your needs.

Average

$345

Median

$340

Lowest

$98

Highest

$596

Providers

199

National avg: $478Delaware: $345

28% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Delaware?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$63	$215	$399	201
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$66	$203	$363	187
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$73	$225	$651	103
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$61	$177	$273	205

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 70553 — MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 70553 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 70553 (MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 70553 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri brain. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Brain MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Delaware

Delaware's healthcare costs run approximately 11% above national averages, driven by the state's small size, limited provider competition, and proximity to high-cost Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. The First State's unique position as a single media market with three distinct counties creates interesting cost variations despite the compact geography.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Northern Delaware, anchored by Wilmington and the I-95 corridor, hosts the majority of specialized Brain MRI providers and imaging centers, while Kent and Sussex counties have fewer options requiring longer travel times. This geographic concentration drives higher costs in New Castle County while creating access challenges and sometimes higher out-of-pocket expenses for residents in Delaware's rural southern regions.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, primarily affiliated with ChristianaCare and Bayhealth systems, typically charge 20-40% more than independent radiology practices due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Delaware's hospital market concentration means many Brain MRI services flow through these major health systems, limiting price competition compared to states with more diverse provider networks.

Insurance Market Competition in Delaware

With Highmark, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare controlling most of Delaware's commercial insurance market, the moderate competition has resulted in negotiated rates that track above national medians for Brain MRI services. The state's small size limits insurer leverage in rate negotiations, while the concentrated provider market gives health systems more pricing power than in larger, more competitive states.

Physician Supply and Demand in Delaware

Delaware's 199 active Brain MRI providers represent a solid supply relative to the state's 990,000 residents, suggesting adequate access without the severe shortages seen in many rural states. This balanced supply-demand ratio helps moderate wait times and prevents the premium pricing that occurs in physician-shortage areas, though specialty subspecialists in neuroradiology remain concentrated in northern Delaware.

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Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Brain MRI Costs in Delaware

What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Delaware without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Delaware typically pay between $98 and $596 for Brain MRI services, with a median cost of $340 based on negotiated insurance rates. Many imaging centers offer cash-pay discounts of 30-50% off these rates, and payment plans are often available to help manage costs for self-pay patients.

Does Delaware Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?

Yes, Delaware Medicaid covers medically necessary Brain MRI services following the state's Medicaid expansion. Prior authorization is typically required, and you'll need a referral from a Medicaid-enrolled primary care provider or specialist. Coverage includes both the technical imaging component and professional interpretation fees.

How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Delaware?

Compare costs across Delaware's 199 Brain MRI providers by checking with independent imaging centers, which often charge less than hospital-based facilities. Ask about self-pay discounts if uninsured, consider traveling to southern Delaware where costs may be lower, and explore community health centers that offer sliding fee scales based on income.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Brain MRI costs in Delaware range from $98 to $596 regardless of whether it's your first scan or a follow-up study, as the technical imaging fees remain consistent. However, the radiologist's interpretation fee may vary slightly for comparison studies that require review of previous imaging, and some facilities offer package pricing for patients requiring serial monitoring scans.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Brain MRI visit in Delaware?

Yes, Brain MRI services qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay for the imaging study, radiologist interpretation fees, and any related copays or deductibles, making it a tax-efficient way to manage your brain imaging costs.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Delaware?

While the Brain MRI scan itself must be performed in person at an imaging facility, many Delaware providers offer telehealth consultations for reviewing results and discussing treatment plans, typically costing $50-150 less than in-person follow-up visits. Some radiologists also provide remote second opinions on brain imaging studies, expanding access to subspecialty expertise across Delaware's small geographic area.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$265

$1,291

Office visit (CPT 70553)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	North Dakota(ND) Range: $221 – $3,100	$1,291	$221	$3,100	649
2	Minnesota(MN) Range: $88 – $3,100	$1,247	$88	$3,100	3,070
3	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $80 – $2,464	$975	$80	$2,464	4,163
4	Nevada(NV) Range: $135 – $1,458	$698	$135	$1,458	2,580
5	Georgia(GA) Range: $101 – $1,468	$653	$101	$1,468	3,018
6	Hawaii(HI) Range: $88 – $1,014	$577	$88	$1,014	99
7	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $90 – $1,060	$567	$90	$1,060	1,770
8	Maine(ME) Range: $178 – $1,023	$548	$178	$1,023	1,697
9	Wyoming(WY) Range: $100 – $1,112	$537	$100	$1,112	183
10	Utah(UT) Range: $94 – $1,045	$510	$94	$1,045	349
11	Nebraska(NE) Range: $208 – $793	$504	$208	$793	2,641
12	New Mexico(NM) Range: $98 – $1,063	$492	$98	$1,063	1,235
13	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $129 – $993	$489	$129	$993	3,685
14	Washington(WA) Range: $100 – $863	$489	$100	$863	3,337
15	North Carolina(NC) Range: $99 – $988	$485	$99	$988	2,437
16	Iowa(IA) Range: $95 – $842	$483	$95	$842	409
17	Colorado(CO) Range: $95 – $1,015	$475	$95	$1,015	1,451
18	Indiana(IN) Range: $85 – $1,014	$471	$85	$1,014	360
19	Louisiana(LA) Range: $92 – $766	$468	$92	$766	1,172
20	Alaska(AK) Range: $97 – $948	$454	$97	$948	43
21	South Dakota(SD) Range: $247 – $552	$450	$247	$552	321
22	West Virginia(WV) Range: $98 – $687	$446	$98	$687	268
23	Vermont(VT) Range: $82 – $983	$443	$82	$983	345
24	Virginia(VA) Range: $76 – $970	$437	$76	$970	3,183
25	Michigan(MI) Range: $80 – $917	$430	$80	$917	2,202
26	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $88 – $879	$429	$88	$879	84
27	Idaho(ID) Range: $88 – $793	$428	$88	$793	136
28	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $90 – $879	$426	$90	$879	333
29	Oregon(OR) Range: $103 – $623	$426	$103	$623	662
30	Illinois(IL) Range: $93 – $842	$417	$93	$842	5,703
31	New York(NY) Range: $82 – $926	$417	$82	$926	32,184
32	Tennessee(TN) Range: $109 – $823	$417	$109	$823	2,409
33	Montana(MT) Range: $100 – $590	$414	$100	$590	91
34	Kansas(KS) Range: $107 – $818	$401	$107	$818	1,840
35	Kentucky(KY) Range: $83 – $842	$398	$83	$842	225
36	South Carolina(SC) Range: $82 – $829	$390	$82	$829	1,282
37	Alabama(AL) Range: $88 – $811	$384	$88	$811	2,663
38	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $57 – $879	$384	$57	$879	1,970
39	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $85 – $817	$377	$85	$817	2,094
40	Mississippi(MS) Range: $89 – $811	$376	$89	$811	1,312
41	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $63 – $830	$374	$63	$830	7,290
42	Ohio(OH) Range: $78 – $813	$373	$78	$813	4,538
43	Texas(TX) Range: $90 – $721	$355	$90	$721	10,894
44	Maryland(MD) Range: $46 – $737	$351	$46	$737	4,016
45	Delaware(DE) Range: $98 – $596	$345	$98	$596	199
46	Missouri(MO) Range: $115 – $628	$342	$115	$628	5,338
47	Arkansas(AR) Range: $104 – $630	$340	$104	$630	131
48	Connecticut(CT) Range: $55 – $777	$337	$55	$777	896
49	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $811	$302	$35	$811	4,998
50	Arizona(AZ) Range: $100 – $550	$288	$100	$550	4,828
51	California(CA) Range: $55 – $654	$265	$55	$654	9,774