Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in New Jersey
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
New Jersey's dense network of academic medical centers and specialty imaging facilities creates a competitive landscape for Brain MRI services across the state. Brain MRI costs in New Jersey typically range from $63 to $830, with a median negotiated rate of $230 based on transparency data from major insurers. With over 7,290 active Brain MRI providers throughout New Jersey, patients have extensive options for finding quality care that fits their budget and insurance coverage.
Average
$374
Median
$230
Lowest
$63
Highest
$830
Providers
7,290
22% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in New Jersey?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $47 | $144 | $466 | 7,266 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $52 | $144 | $459 | 7,247 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $64 | $235 | $558 | 6,647 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $41 | $132 | $371 | 7,333 |
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 New Jersey
Brain MRI costs in New Jersey run approximately 17% above national averages, reflecting the state's high cost of living and concentration of prestigious academic medical centers. The dense population corridor from Newark to Trenton creates intense competition among providers, while rural areas in northwestern and southern New Jersey may have limited options that can drive up pricing.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
New Jersey's urban centers like Newark, Jersey City, and Camden offer abundant Brain MRI options with competitive pricing, while rural counties in the Pine Barrens region may require patients to travel significant distances for care. This geographic disparity creates access challenges and can result in higher costs for rural patients who must seek services in metropolitan areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers affiliated with major health systems like RWJBarnabas Health and Atlantic Health System typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices. These academic medical centers justify premium pricing through specialized equipment and subspecialty expertise, but may not always provide better value for routine Brain MRI needs.
Insurance Market Competition in New Jersey
The presence of major insurers including Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare creates moderate competition that helps control Brain MRI costs. However, Horizon's dominant market share in certain regions can limit negotiating power for some providers, potentially affecting the range of negotiated rates available to patients.
Physician Supply and Demand in New Jersey
With over 7,290 active Brain MRI providers, New Jersey maintains a robust supply of imaging specialists that generally prevents major access bottlenecks. This healthy provider-to-population ratio helps maintain competitive pricing and reasonable wait times, though demand can spike in certain suburban markets during peak seasons.
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 New Jersey
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in New Jersey without insurance?
Does New Jersey Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in New Jersey?
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 |