Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Maine
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Maine's rural geography and limited specialist concentration contribute to Brain MRI costs that run approximately 26% above the national average. Patients typically pay between $178 and $1,023 for Brain MRI services, with a median negotiated rate of $445 across the state's 1,697 active providers. You can browse all Brain MRI providers in Maine to compare costs and find in-network options that fit your budget.
Average
$548
Median
$445
Lowest
$178
Highest
$1,023
Providers
1,697
15% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Maine?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $105 | $292 | $701 | 1,696 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $116 | $256 | $659 | 1,700 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $140 | $457 | $656 | 1,566 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $93 | $255 | $439 | 1,705 |
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 Maine
Brain MRI costs in Maine run approximately 26% above the national average, reflecting the state's rural geography and concentrated healthcare resources in southern coastal regions. Limited insurer competition and the high overhead costs of maintaining imaging equipment in sparsely populated areas contribute to higher pricing statewide.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Most of Maine's advanced imaging facilities are concentrated in the Portland metro area and other southern cities, requiring patients in northern and eastern Maine to travel significant distances for Brain MRI services. This geographic disparity often means rural patients face higher total costs when factoring in travel expenses and time away from work.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, particularly those affiliated with Maine Medical Center and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices. However, rural hospitals often struggle to maintain expensive MRI equipment, leading to limited options and higher costs in many communities.
Insurance Market Competition in Maine
The relatively small number of major insurers operating in Maine -- primarily Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim, and UHC -- creates less competitive pressure on negotiated rates compared to states with more robust insurer competition. This concentrated market can result in higher costs for specialized services like Brain MRI across all payer types.
Physician Supply and Demand in Maine
With 1,697 active Brain MRI providers serving the state's population, Maine maintains adequate specialist coverage in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This uneven distribution creates longer wait times and potentially higher costs in underserved areas, while competitive pricing may be available in Portland and surrounding communities.
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 Maine
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Maine without insurance?
Does Maine Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Maine?
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 Maine?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Maine?
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 |