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New Hampshire

Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in New Hampshire

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

New Hampshire's healthcare market operates with costs approximately 11% above national averages, reflecting the state's unique mix of rural access challenges and urban provider concentration. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $129 and $993, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $344 across the state's network of 3,685 active providers. Browse all Brain MRI providers in New Hampshire to compare costs and find the right match for your needs.

Average

$489

Median

$344

Lowest

$129

Highest

$993

Providers

3,685

National avg: $478New Hampshire: $489

2% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri brain compare to related procedures in New Hampshire?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
MRI Knee

MRI of the knee without contrast

73721$77$221$5903,687
MRI Lumbar Spine

MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast

72148$85$201$5793,684
CT Abdomen & Pelvis

CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast

74177$101$325$7403,693
CT Chest

CT scan of the chest with contrast

71260$67$183$4463,685

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 70553MRI 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 New Hampshire

New Hampshire's healthcare costs run approximately 11% above national averages, driven by the state's small population spread across diverse geographic regions. The Live Free or Die state balances urban medical centers in the south with rural communities that face provider access challenges in the north.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Southern New Hampshire cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Concord concentrate most imaging facilities, while northern counties often require patients to travel significant distances for Brain MRI services. This geographic disparity creates cost variations, with rural facilities sometimes offering lower rates to attract patients from wider catchment areas. Transportation costs can offset any rural savings for patients living in remote areas.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments typically charge higher facility fees than independent imaging centers throughout New Hampshire. Major health systems like Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Catholic Medical Center operate multiple imaging locations with standardized pricing structures. Independent facilities often provide more competitive rates due to lower overhead costs and streamlined operations.

Insurance Market Competition in New Hampshire

The state's insurance market features limited competition with Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim, and Cigna dominating coverage options. This concentrated market can result in less aggressive rate negotiations between insurers and providers compared to more competitive states. Employer-sponsored plans often have better negotiated rates than individual market plans due to larger enrollment pools.

Physician Supply and Demand in New Hampshire

With 3,685 active Brain MRI providers serving approximately 1.4 million residents, New Hampshire maintains adequate imaging capacity in most regions. This provider-to-population ratio suggests reasonable access without severe shortages that might drive up prices. Wait times for non-urgent Brain MRI studies typically range from several days to two weeks depending on location and facility type.

JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Brain MRI Costs in New Hampshire

What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in New Hampshire without insurance?

Uninsured patients in New Hampshire can expect to pay between $129 and $993 for a Brain MRI, with a median cost of $344. These prices reflect negotiated insurance rates and may be higher for cash-paying patients, though many facilities offer self-pay discounts. The wide cost range depends on facility type, location, and whether contrast dye is required for your specific study.

Does New Hampshire Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?

Yes, New Hampshire Medicaid covers medically necessary Brain MRI studies, as the state expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Coverage typically requires prior authorization and a physician referral demonstrating medical necessity. Medicaid patients usually have no out-of-pocket costs for approved Brain MRI studies when using in-network providers.

How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in New Hampshire?

Compare prices across different facility types, as independent imaging centers often cost less than hospital-based departments in New Hampshire. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider traveling to rural areas where imaging costs may be lower. Community health centers and federally qualified health centers may also offer sliding scale pricing based on income.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Brain MRI studies typically have consistent pricing regardless of whether it's your first scan or a follow-up study at the same facility. The $129 to $993 range in New Hampshire applies to the imaging study itself rather than consultation fees. However, radiologist interpretation fees and facility charges remain relatively stable between initial and repeat scans.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Brain MRI visit in New Hampshire?

Yes, Brain MRI studies qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You can use these tax-advantaged funds to pay for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance related to medically necessary brain imaging. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes and FSA reimbursement claims.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in New Hampshire?

While the Brain MRI scan itself must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telehealth consultations can reduce overall costs by eliminating travel for pre-scan consultations and results reviews. Many New Hampshire providers offer virtual follow-up appointments to discuss MRI findings, which typically cost less than in-person visits. Telemedicine access has expanded significantly across the state, particularly benefiting rural patients.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$265
$1,291

Office visit (CPT 70553)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1North Dakota
Range: $221$3,100
$1,291
2Minnesota
Range: $88$3,100
$1,247
3Wisconsin
Range: $80$2,464
$975
4Nevada
Range: $135$1,458
$698
5Georgia
Range: $101$1,468
$653
6Hawaii
Range: $88$1,014
$577
7Massachusetts
Range: $90$1,060
$567
8Maine
Range: $178$1,023
$548
9Wyoming
Range: $100$1,112
$537
10Utah
Range: $94$1,045
$510
11Nebraska
Range: $208$793
$504
12New Mexico
Range: $98$1,063
$492
13New Hampshire
Range: $129$993
$489
14Washington
Range: $100$863
$489
15North Carolina
Range: $99$988
$485
16Iowa
Range: $95$842
$483
17Colorado
Range: $95$1,015
$475
18Indiana
Range: $85$1,014
$471
19Louisiana
Range: $92$766
$468
20Alaska
Range: $97$948
$454
21South Dakota
Range: $247$552
$450
22West Virginia
Range: $98$687
$446
23Vermont
Range: $82$983
$443
24Virginia
Range: $76$970
$437
25Michigan
Range: $80$917
$430
26Rhode Island
Range: $88$879
$429
27Idaho
Range: $88$793
$428
28District of Columbia
Range: $90$879
$426
29Oregon
Range: $103$623
$426
30Illinois
Range: $93$842
$417
31New York
Range: $82$926
$417
32Tennessee
Range: $109$823
$417
33Montana
Range: $100$590
$414
34Kansas
Range: $107$818
$401
35Kentucky
Range: $83$842
$398
36South Carolina
Range: $82$829
$390
37Alabama
Range: $88$811
$384
38Pennsylvania
Range: $57$879
$384
39Oklahoma
Range: $85$817
$377
40Mississippi
Range: $89$811
$376
41New Jersey
Range: $63$830
$374
42Ohio
Range: $78$813
$373
43Texas
Range: $90$721
$355
44Maryland
Range: $46$737
$351
45Delaware
Range: $98$596
$345
46Missouri
Range: $115$628
$342
47Arkansas
Range: $104$630
$340
48Connecticut
Range: $55$777
$337
49Florida
Range: $35$811
$302
50Arizona
Range: $100$550
$288
51California
Range: $55$654
$265
MRI Brain in Other States