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
1% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in North Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $65 | $224 | $580 | 2,625 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $212 | $572 | 2,593 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $269 | $648 | 2,798 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $60 | $196 | $443 | 2,569 |
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.
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 North Carolina
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in North Carolina without insurance?
Does North Carolina Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in North Carolina?
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 |