Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Montana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Montana's vast geography creates unique challenges for accessing specialized healthcare, with Brain MRI providers concentrated in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls while rural residents often travel hundreds of miles for care. Patients typically pay between $99.7 and $589.8 for Brain MRI services, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $551.5 across the state's 91 active providers. Montana residents can browse all providers to find the most affordable options in their region.
Average
$414
Median
$552
Lowest
$100
Highest
$590
Providers
91
13% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Montana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $327 | $358 | 98 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $73 | $368 | $2,851 | 350 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $621 | $1,834 | 333 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $171 | $263 | 108 |
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 Montana
Montana's Brain MRI costs run approximately 4% above the national average, reflecting the state's rural geography and concentrated provider network. The Treasure State's vast distances between population centers create unique cost pressures as facilities must serve large geographic areas with relatively small patient volumes.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Brain MRI services are primarily concentrated in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Bozeman, forcing many rural Montanans to travel significant distances for imaging. This geographic concentration allows urban providers to maintain higher pricing due to limited local competition. Rural hospitals often lack MRI capabilities, requiring patient transfers or referrals to regional medical centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments dominate Montana's market, particularly at Benefis Health System in Great Falls and Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. These hospital-affiliated centers typically charge facility fees in addition to professional fees, increasing overall costs. Independent imaging centers are less common but may offer more competitive pricing when available.
Insurance Market Competition in Montana
The state's insurance market is relatively concentrated, with Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana holding significant market share alongside PacificSource and UnitedHealthcare. Limited insurer competition can result in higher negotiated rates with providers, particularly in rural areas with single-hospital markets. This concentration affects both commercial and Medicare Advantage plan pricing across the state.
Physician Supply and Demand in Montana
With 91 active Brain MRI providers serving Montana's population, the state faces radiologist shortages in rural areas despite adequate overall numbers. Many facilities rely on teleradiology services to provide after-hours and weekend coverage, which can affect both costs and turnaround times. The concentration of specialists in urban areas creates capacity constraints and potentially higher pricing in underserved regions.
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 Montana
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Montana without insurance?
Does Montana Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Montana?
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 Montana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Montana?
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 |