Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Missouri
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Missouri's healthcare landscape features a mixed market of major health systems alongside rural provider shortages, creating significant cost variation for Brain MRI services across the state. With negotiated insurance rates ranging from $115 to $628 for comprehensive Brain MRI procedures, patients typically see substantial differences between urban and rural facilities. The Show-Me State maintains over 5,300 active Brain MRI providers, giving patients options to compare costs and find quality care throughout Missouri's diverse healthcare network.
Average
$342
Median
$284
Lowest
$115
Highest
$628
Providers
5,338
28% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Missouri?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $69 | $183 | $461 | 5,342 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $76 | $162 | $415 | 5,288 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $89 | $261 | $385 | 5,463 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $148 | $265 | 5,432 |
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 Missouri
Missouri's healthcare costs run approximately 5% below national averages due to the state's lower cost of living and mixed urban-rural provider landscape. The concentration of major medical centers in St. Louis and Kansas City creates pricing pressure, while rural areas face access challenges that can drive up costs for specialized imaging services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Missouri's Brain MRI providers cluster heavily in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia metropolitan areas, leaving rural counties with limited local access. Patients in rural Missouri often travel 50+ miles for imaging services, creating additional costs but sometimes accessing lower facility fees. The state's 114 counties vary dramatically in specialist availability, with some rural areas served by mobile imaging units or requiring referrals to urban centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major health systems like BJC HealthCare, Mercy, and Saint Luke's operate hospital-based imaging centers with higher overhead costs reflected in facility fees. Independent radiology practices and freestanding imaging centers typically offer more competitive pricing for Brain MRI procedures. Academic medical centers such as Washington University and University of Missouri facilities often charge premium rates but provide access to specialized subspecialty expertise.
Insurance Market Competition in Missouri
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield holds significant market share in Missouri, competing primarily with UnitedHealthcare and Cigna for commercial coverage. This moderate competition helps maintain reasonable negotiated rates with Brain MRI providers compared to states with single-insurer dominance. The absence of Medicaid expansion limits insurer participation in that market, concentrating competition among commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.
Physician Supply and Demand in Missouri
With over 5,300 active Brain MRI providers, Missouri maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The state's physician supply relative to population falls slightly below national averages, particularly affecting subspecialty services. Wait times for non-urgent Brain MRI procedures typically range from 1-3 weeks in metropolitan areas but can extend longer in rural counties, though pricing remains competitive due to the substantial provider network.
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 Missouri
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Missouri without insurance?
Does Missouri Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Missouri?
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 Missouri?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Missouri?
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 |