Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in New York
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
New York's healthcare system, anchored by world-renowned medical centers like NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System, serves over 19 million residents with extensive Brain MRI networks across the state. Based on transparency data from major insurers, Brain MRI patients typically pay between $82 and $926, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $243. New York maintains one of the nation's highest provider densities with over 32,000 active Brain MRI specialists, allowing patients to browse comprehensive provider options throughout the Empire State.
Average
$417
Median
$243
Lowest
$82
Highest
$926
Providers
32,184
13% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in New York?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $48 | $154 | $582 | 31,869 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $53 | $148 | $529 | 32,161 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $65 | $235 | $782 | 31,455 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $42 | $129 | $443 | 32,246 |
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 York
New York's healthcare costs run approximately 22% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living, extensive regulatory requirements, and concentration of prestigious medical institutions throughout the New York City metropolitan area. The Empire State's unique blend of world-class urban medical centers and underserved rural communities creates dramatic cost and access disparities for Brain MRI services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Manhattan and Long Island boast some of the nation's highest concentrations of neuroradiology specialists, while rural counties in the North Country and Southern Tier face significant provider shortages that force patients to travel hours for Brain MRI services. This geographic disparity creates a two-tier pricing system where urban convenience commands premium rates while rural accessibility remains limited despite lower baseline costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers affiliated with systems like NewYork-Presbyterian, NYU Langone, and Mount Sinai typically charge higher facility fees to support their academic missions and comprehensive service offerings. Independent radiology practices, particularly those in outer boroughs and upstate regions, often provide more competitive pricing due to lower overhead costs and streamlined operations.
Insurance Market Competition in New York
The state's robust insurance marketplace featuring Empire BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna creates competitive negotiated rates for Brain MRI services, though market concentration in certain regions can limit true price competition. New York's strong insurance regulations and active Department of Financial Services oversight generally prevent excessive rate increases, though premium imaging centers still command higher reimbursement rates from most carriers.
Physician Supply and Demand in New York
With over 32,000 active Brain MRI providers statewide, New York maintains one of the nation's most robust specialist networks, though distribution heavily favors metropolitan areas over rural regions. This substantial provider supply helps moderate costs in competitive markets like New York City while creating access challenges in underserved areas where limited competition can drive prices higher despite lower baseline costs.
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 York
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in New York without insurance?
Does New York Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in New York?
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 York?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in New York?
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 |