Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Minnesota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Minnesota's Mayo Clinic helped pioneer modern diagnostic imaging, and today the state maintains one of the most robust MRI networks in the Midwest. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $87.90 and $3,100.37, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $551.50 across Minnesota's 3,070 active providers. Minnesota residents can browse all Brain MRI providers statewide to compare costs and insurance coverage options.
Average
$1,247
Median
$552
Lowest
$88
Highest
$3,100
Providers
3,070
161% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Minnesota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvic Ultrasound Cost of pelvic ultrasound (transvaginal and pelvic complete) across the US, with state-by-state pricing for both office-based and hospital outpatient settings. | 76830 | $48 | $48 | $186 | 2,017 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $83 | $327 | $507 | 3,234 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $88 | $368 | $2,450 | 3,198 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $88 | $101 | $10,549 | 2,200 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $80 | $171 | $7,881 | 3,188 |
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 Minnesota
Minnesota's Brain MRI costs run approximately 57% above the national average, reflecting the state's concentration of prestigious medical facilities and higher operational costs. The Twin Cities metro area commands premium pricing while rural regions often struggle with limited imaging access.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area hosts world-renowned facilities like Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota Medical Center, while rural Minnesota counties often rely on traveling MRI units or require patients to drive hours for imaging. This geographic disparity creates both access challenges and significant cost variations across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based imaging centers affiliated with major health systems like Allina Health, Fairview, and HealthPartners typically charge 40-60% more than independent imaging centers. Academic medical centers carry additional overhead from teaching and research activities, contributing to Minnesota's higher-than-average imaging costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Minnesota
BCBS MN, UHC, and HealthPartners maintain strong market presence with relatively balanced competition, preventing any single insurer from dominating rate negotiations. This competitive dynamic helps moderate cost increases compared to states with less insurer competition, though rates remain elevated due to provider concentration.
Physician Supply and Demand in Minnesota
With 3,070 active Brain MRI providers, Minnesota maintains adequate specialist density in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The Twin Cities metro area has sufficient radiologist supply to maintain reasonable scheduling, while greater Minnesota often experiences longer wait times that can drive patients to seek care in metropolitan areas at higher costs.
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 Minnesota
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Minnesota without insurance?
Does Minnesota Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Minnesota?
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 |