Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Delaware
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
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Brain MRI Costs in Delaware
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Delaware without insurance?
Does Delaware Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Delaware?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Brain MRI visit in Delaware?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Delaware?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 70553)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $221 – $3,100 | $1,291 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $3,100 | $1,247 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $80 – $2,464 | $975 |
| 4 | Nevada Range: $135 – $1,458 | $698 |
| 5 | Georgia Range: $101 – $1,468 | $653 |
| 6 | Hawaii Range: $88 – $1,014 | $577 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Range: $90 – $1,060 | $567 |
| 8 | Maine Range: $178 – $1,023 | $548 |
| 9 | Wyoming Range: $100 – $1,112 | $537 |
| 10 | Utah Range: $94 – $1,045 | $510 |
| 11 | Nebraska Range: $208 – $793 | $504 |
| 12 | New Mexico Range: $98 – $1,063 | $492 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $129 – $993 | $489 |
| 14 | Washington Range: $100 – $863 | $489 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $99 – $988 | $485 |
| 16 | Iowa Range: $95 – $842 | $483 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $95 – $1,015 | $475 |
| 18 | Indiana Range: $85 – $1,014 | $471 |
| 19 | Louisiana Range: $92 – $766 | $468 |
| 20 | Alaska Range: $97 – $948 | $454 |
| 21 | South Dakota Range: $247 – $552 | $450 |
| 22 | West Virginia Range: $98 – $687 | $446 |
| 23 | Vermont Range: $82 – $983 | $443 |
| 24 | Virginia Range: $76 – $970 | $437 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $80 – $917 | $430 |
| 26 | Rhode Island Range: $88 – $879 | $429 |
| 27 | Idaho Range: $88 – $793 | $428 |
| 28 | District of Columbia Range: $90 – $879 | $426 |
| 29 | Oregon Range: $103 – $623 | $426 |
| 30 | Illinois Range: $93 – $842 | $417 |
| 31 | New York Range: $82 – $926 | $417 |
| 32 | Tennessee Range: $109 – $823 | $417 |
| 33 | Montana Range: $100 – $590 | $414 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $107 – $818 | $401 |
| 35 | Kentucky Range: $83 – $842 | $398 |
| 36 | South Carolina Range: $82 – $829 | $390 |
| 37 | Alabama Range: $88 – $811 | $384 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania Range: $57 – $879 | $384 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $817 | $377 |
| 40 | Mississippi Range: $89 – $811 | $376 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $63 – $830 | $374 |
| 42 | Ohio Range: $78 – $813 | $373 |
| 43 | Texas Range: $90 – $721 | $355 |
| 44 | Maryland Range: $46 – $737 | $351 |
| 45 | Delaware Range: $98 – $596 | $345 |
| 46 | Missouri Range: $115 – $628 | $342 |
| 47 | Arkansas Range: $104 – $630 | $340 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $777 | $337 |
| 49 | Florida Range: $35 – $811 | $302 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $100 – $550 | $288 |
| 51 | California Range: $55 – $654 | $265 |