Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Pennsylvania's healthcare market, dominated by major systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine, serves patients across diverse urban and rural settings that significantly impact Brain MRI costs. Patients typically pay between $56.97 and $878.76, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $215.34 for Brain MRI visits throughout the state. With 1,970 active Brain MRI providers serving Pennsylvania residents, patients have substantial options to compare costs and find quality care that fits their budget.
Average
$384
Median
$215
Lowest
$57
Highest
$879
Providers
1,970
20% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Pennsylvania?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $55 | $134 | $506 | 1,965 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $55 | $132 | $527 | 1,641 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $76 | $215 | $753 | 1,669 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $50 | $115 | $389 | 2,029 |
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's healthcare costs run approximately 9% above national averages, reflecting the state's mix of high-cost urban markets in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alongside more affordable rural regions. The dominance of large health systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine in major metropolitan areas creates pricing power that influences costs throughout their extensive networks across Pennsylvania.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Pennsylvania's geographic diversity creates stark contrasts between provider-rich urban corridors and underserved rural counties, particularly in the northern and central regions of the state. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas offer abundant Brain MRI options with competitive pricing, while rural Pennsylvania residents may face longer travel times and limited provider choices that can drive up costs. The state's mountainous terrain and scattered rural population centers make healthcare delivery challenging, contributing to higher per-visit costs in remote areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient Brain MRI clinics in Pennsylvania typically charge 20-40% more than independent radiology practices due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Major health systems like UPMC, Penn Medicine, and Geisinger operate extensive networks of hospital-affiliated imaging centers that command premium rates but offer integrated care coordination. Independent radiology groups and specialized imaging centers often provide more competitive pricing while maintaining quality standards, particularly in suburban Pennsylvania markets.
Insurance Market Competition in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's insurance market features strong regional competition between Highmark Blue Shield (dominant in western PA), Independence Blue Cross (eastern PA), and national carriers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. This geographic split creates different negotiated rate structures across the state, with some providers accepting only certain insurers, limiting patient options in specific regions. The competitive dynamics generally benefit consumers through varied pricing options, though provider network adequacy can be challenging in rural Pennsylvania counties.
Physician Supply and Demand in Pennsylvania
With 1,970 active Brain MRI providers serving Pennsylvania's 12.8 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This distribution creates wait time disparities and pricing variations, with rural patients often traveling to urban centers for specialized Brain MRI services. The concentration of providers around major medical schools and health systems in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh helps moderate costs through competition, while underserved areas may experience premium pricing due to limited supply.
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 Pennsylvania
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Pennsylvania without insurance?
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Pennsylvania?
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 |