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North Carolina

Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in North Carolina

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

North Carolina's Medicaid non-expansion status has created unique cost dynamics for specialty care, with many residents relying on private insurance or self-pay options for Brain MRI services. Patients typically pay between $98.78 and $988.08 for these visits, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $367.32 across the state's 2,437 active providers. Whether you're in Charlotte's competitive healthcare market or rural counties with limited specialty access, you can browse all Brain MRI providers in North Carolina to find quality care within your budget.

Average

$485

Median

$367

Lowest

$99

Highest

$988

Providers

2,437

National avg: $478North Carolina: $485

1% above national average

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Just $19.99/mo

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri brain compare to related procedures in North Carolina?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
MRI Knee

MRI of the knee without contrast

73721$65$224$5802,625
MRI Lumbar Spine

MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast

72148$72$212$5722,593
CT Abdomen & Pelvis

CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast

74177$80$269$6482,798
CT Chest

CT scan of the chest with contrast

71260$60$196$4432,569

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 North Carolina

Brain MRI costs in North Carolina run approximately 2% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower overall healthcare costs despite growing demand for specialty services. The state's mix of major metropolitan areas and extensive rural counties creates significant geographic variation in both access and pricing.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

The Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metro areas concentrate most of North Carolina's advanced imaging capabilities, while rural counties often require patients to travel 50+ miles for Brain MRI services. This geographic imbalance drives higher costs in underserved areas due to limited competition and higher overhead costs for maintaining equipment in smaller facilities.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based imaging centers affiliated with major systems like Atrium Health and Duke Health typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices. Academic medical centers in Chapel Hill and Durham command premium pricing due to their specialized expertise and research capabilities, while community hospitals offer more moderate rates.

Insurance Market Competition in North Carolina

BCBS NC maintains the largest market share in the state, followed by UHC and Aetna, creating a moderately competitive environment that keeps negotiated rates relatively stable. Rural counties often have fewer insurer options, which can limit provider networks and reduce patients' ability to shop for lower-cost Brain MRI services.

Physician Supply and Demand in North Carolina

With 2,437 active Brain MRI providers statewide, North Carolina maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply-demand imbalance contributes to longer wait times and higher costs in underserved counties, while metropolitan areas benefit from competitive pricing and shorter scheduling delays.

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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 North Carolina

What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in North Carolina without insurance?

Without insurance, Brain MRI visits in North Carolina range from $98.78 to $988.08, with a median cost of $367.32 based on negotiated rates from major insurers. Independent imaging centers typically charge less than hospital-based facilities, and many providers offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% when you pay at the time of service. Rural areas may have limited options but sometimes offer more competitive cash pricing to attract patients who might otherwise travel to urban centers.

Does North Carolina Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?

North Carolina Medicaid covers medically necessary brain MRIs for eligible recipients, though the state has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, limiting coverage to specific populations. Pregnant women, children, disabled individuals, and those meeting strict income requirements can access coverage, but prior authorization is typically required for imaging studies. Many adults fall into a coverage gap where they earn too much for traditional Medicaid but too little for marketplace subsidies.

How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in North Carolina?

Compare costs across different facility types, as independent imaging centers often charge 30-50% less than hospital-based departments in North Carolina. Ask about self-pay discounts, payment plans, and sliding scale fees, particularly at community health centers and academic medical centers. Consider traveling to nearby cities if you're in a rural area, as urban markets typically offer more competitive pricing due to higher provider density.

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

Based on the available data for Brain MRI services in North Carolina, the median cost is $367.32 across all visit types, though specific breakdowns between new and established patient visits aren't detailed in the current dataset. Initial consultations typically involve more comprehensive evaluations and may include additional imaging sequences, while follow-up visits often focus on monitoring known conditions. Most insurers use the same copay structure for both visit types when seeing the same specialist.

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

Yes, Brain MRI visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) in North Carolina. You can use these tax-advantaged funds to pay for copays, deductibles, and out-of-network costs related to diagnostic imaging. Keep all receipts and documentation, as you may need to provide proof that the services were medically necessary rather than elective or cosmetic.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in North Carolina?

While the actual MRI scan requires in-person imaging, many North Carolina providers now offer telehealth consultations for reviewing results and discussing treatment plans, which typically cost 15-30% less than office visits. Initial consultations to determine if brain imaging is needed can sometimes be conducted virtually, potentially saving time and money before scheduling the actual MRI. However, most insurers in North Carolina require at least one in-person evaluation before authorizing expensive imaging studies.

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
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming