Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Illinois
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Illinois healthcare costs run approximately 10% above national averages, with Brain MRI visits typically ranging from $93 to $842 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state's 5,703 active Brain MRI providers are concentrated heavily in the Chicago metropolitan area, though rural regions maintain adequate coverage through regional health systems.
Average
$417
Median
$317
Lowest
$93
Highest
$842
Providers
5,703
13% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Illinois?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $69 | $221 | $595 | 7,078 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $76 | $186 | $553 | 6,155 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $289 | $537 | 8,716 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $167 | $346 | 7,047 |
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 Illinois
Illinois healthcare costs average 10% above national rates, driven by Chicago's high operational expenses and downstate rural access challenges. The state's geography creates distinct cost zones from expensive Loop medical districts to affordable rural imaging centers.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Chicago's abundant imaging facilities create competitive pricing, while rural counties like those in southern Illinois may have limited Brain MRI options. The Illinois Hospital Association reports significant disparities between Cook County's provider density and downstate availability. Patients in rural areas sometimes travel 50+ miles for specialized imaging, affecting overall healthcare costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging in Illinois carries higher overhead than independent radiology centers, reflected in negotiated insurance rates. Major health systems like Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Aurora dominate the Chicago market with premium pricing structures. Freestanding imaging centers typically offer 20-30% lower costs for identical Brain MRI procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Illinois
BCBS Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna compete aggressively in the Chicago metro area, leading to favorable negotiated rates for consumers. Rural Illinois markets show less insurer competition, potentially resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs. The state's ACA marketplace offers additional options that can affect Brain MRI pricing and access patterns.
Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois
With 5,703 active Brain MRI providers, Illinois maintains adequate radiologist supply relative to its 12.6 million residents. This healthy provider-to-patient ratio helps moderate pricing pressure compared to shortage states. Chicago's medical training programs continuously supply new radiologists, maintaining competitive market dynamics and reasonable wait times.
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 Illinois
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Illinois without insurance?
Does Illinois Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Illinois?
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 |