Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest physician-to-patient ratio, yet Brain MRI costs still fluctuate significantly across the state's diverse healthcare landscape. With 1,770 active Brain MRI providers throughout the Commonwealth, patients have extensive options for specialized neurological care. The state's advanced medical infrastructure means patients can access high-quality Brain MRI services from Boston's prestigious teaching hospitals to community health centers in western Massachusetts.
Average
$567
Median
$552
Lowest
$90
Highest
$1,060
Providers
1,770
19% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $70 | $327 | $590 | 1,753 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $74 | $368 | $590 | 1,481 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $299 | $896 | 1,427 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $171 | $454 | 1,801 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, driven by the state's concentration of prestigious academic medical centers and high cost of living in the Boston metropolitan area. The Commonwealth's healthcare market is highly consolidated, with major health systems controlling both insurance plans and provider networks, creating unique pricing dynamics.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Boston hosts over 60% of the state's Brain MRI specialists, creating significant access disparities for residents in western Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Patients in Springfield, Worcester, or the Berkshires may face longer wait times and higher travel costs, though telemedicine options have expanded significantly. Rural areas often rely on visiting specialists or require referrals to Boston-area academic centers for complex neurological conditions.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned neurology practices in Massachusetts charge substantial facility fees on top of physician services, particularly at academic medical centers like Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey Health. Independent neurology groups typically offer 25-35% lower total visit costs but may have limited evening or weekend availability. The state's dominant health systems have absorbed most specialty practices, reducing price competition.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan, and Harvard Pilgrim control over 75% of the commercial insurance market, creating oligopoly conditions that affect negotiated rates. The state's unique healthcare reform history has produced relatively stable insurance markets with regulated premium increases. However, narrow network designs limit patient choice and can drive higher out-of-pocket costs when preferred specialists are excluded.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With 1,770 active Brain MRI providers, Massachusetts has among the highest specialist density in the nation, particularly concentrated in the Boston teaching hospital corridor. This abundance should theoretically moderate costs, but academic medical center prestige and research missions support premium pricing. Wait times for routine consultations average 2-3 weeks, indicating balanced supply and demand despite the high provider count.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Massachusetts?
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 |