Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Mississippi
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Mississippi's non-expanded Medicaid status and limited insurer competition contribute to Brain MRI imaging costs that run approximately 35% below national averages. Patients typically pay between $88.78 and $811.38 for Brain MRI procedures, with a median negotiated rate of $228.02 across the state's 1,312 active imaging providers. Browse all Brain MRI providers in Mississippi to compare costs and find in-network options in your area.
Average
$376
Median
$228
Lowest
$89
Highest
$811
Providers
1,312
21% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Mississippi?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $52 | $142 | $465 | 1,307 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $58 | $134 | $447 | 1,303 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $71 | $204 | $460 | 1,327 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $48 | $124 | $307 | 1,325 |
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 Mississippi
Mississippi's Brain MRI costs run approximately 35% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and limited urban healthcare markets. Rural counties often face significant access challenges, with patients traveling to Jackson, Gulfport, or Tupelo for specialized imaging services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Mississippi's 1,312 Brain MRI providers are heavily concentrated in the Jackson metro area and along the Gulf Coast, leaving Delta counties with limited local options. Rural patients often face higher total costs due to travel expenses and time off work, despite lower base procedure rates in smaller communities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based Brain MRI centers in Mississippi, particularly those affiliated with University of Mississippi Medical Center and Merit Health systems, typically charge higher facility fees than independent imaging centers. Freestanding radiology clinics offer competitive rates but may have limited evening or weekend availability compared to hospital-based services.
Insurance Market Competition in Mississippi
BCBS Mississippi holds the largest market share statewide, followed by UHC and Magnolia Health Plans, creating limited insurer competition that can result in higher negotiated rates. The concentrated market gives major health systems more leverage in rate negotiations, particularly in underserved rural areas with fewer provider alternatives.
Physician Supply and Demand in Mississippi
With 1,312 active Brain MRI providers serving approximately 2.9 million residents, Mississippi maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural counties. This uneven distribution creates longer wait times and higher costs in underserved regions, while urban markets offer more competitive pricing and scheduling flexibility.
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 Mississippi
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Mississippi without insurance?
Does Mississippi Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Mississippi?
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 Mississippi?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Mississippi?
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 |