Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Kentucky
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Kentucky's healthcare landscape reflects significant cost advantages, with Brain MRI services running approximately 5% below national averages across the Commonwealth's diverse provider network. Patients typically pay between $82.53 and $842.15 for Brain MRI services, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $270.34 among Kentucky's 225 active providers. From Louisville's academic medical centers to rural Appalachian clinics, patients can browse all Brain MRI providers throughout Kentucky to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.
Average
$398
Median
$270
Lowest
$83
Highest
$842
Providers
225
17% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Kentucky?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $176 | $492 | 218 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $64 | $167 | $516 | 190 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $75 | $211 | $576 | 300 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $117 | $335 | 473 |
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 Kentucky
Kentucky's Brain MRI costs run approximately 5% below national averages, reflecting the Commonwealth's lower overall cost of living and competitive healthcare market dynamics. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural access challenges creates distinct pricing patterns across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Kentucky's Appalachian counties face significant Brain MRI access challenges, with patients often traveling hours to reach imaging facilities in Louisville, Lexington, or other regional centers. This geographic disparity creates higher effective costs for rural patients when factoring in travel and lost wages. Urban areas like Jefferson and Fayette counties benefit from competitive pricing due to multiple imaging centers and academic medical facilities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based Brain MRI services at facilities like Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health typically charge premium rates compared to independent imaging centers throughout Kentucky. Academic medical centers including the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville often carry the highest overhead costs due to teaching missions and research activities. Freestanding imaging centers generally offer the most competitive cash-pay rates for uninsured Kentucky patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Kentucky
Kentucky's moderate insurer concentration among Anthem, UHC, and Humana creates balanced negotiating power between payers and Brain MRI providers. Regional insurers and Medicaid managed care plans add competitive pressure that helps contain costs below national averages. The state's lack of an all-payer claims database limits price transparency but doesn't significantly impact negotiated rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in Kentucky
With 225 active Brain MRI providers serving Kentucky's 4.5 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply imbalance creates cost premiums in underserved counties where patients have limited provider choices. Wait times for non-urgent Brain MRI appointments average 2-3 weeks in major cities but can extend significantly longer in rural Kentucky.
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 Kentucky
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Kentucky without insurance?
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Kentucky?
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 |