Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in South Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Carolina's healthcare landscape features a mix of major academic medical centers like MUSC and smaller regional facilities, creating significant variation in Brain MRI costs across the state. Patients typically pay between $82 and $829 for Brain MRI services, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $260 based on negotiated insurance rates. South Carolina has over 1,280 active Brain MRI providers, giving patients substantial choice when browsing all providers in South Carolina.
Average
$390
Median
$260
Lowest
$82
Highest
$829
Providers
1,282
18% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in South Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $58 | $163 | $468 | 1,323 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $63 | $158 | $465 | 1,091 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $218 | $505 | 1,407 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $141 | $339 | 1,384 |
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 South Carolina
South Carolina's Brain MRI costs run approximately 1% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower overall cost of living and healthcare expenses. The state's mix of urban medical centers in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville alongside rural communities creates distinct pricing tiers across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville offer numerous Brain MRI options with competitive pricing, while rural counties like Marlboro and McCormick have limited providers. Patients in rural areas often travel to larger cities for specialized imaging, potentially increasing overall costs due to transportation and time off work. The Lowcountry and Upstate regions have better provider density than the Pee Dee area.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient centers affiliated with major health systems like Prisma Health and MUSC typically charge higher rates than independent imaging centers. Academic medical centers invest heavily in advanced MRI technology and subspecialty expertise, which increases operational costs. Free-standing imaging facilities often offer lower prices due to reduced overhead expenses.
Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina
The dominance of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, along with UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, creates a moderately competitive insurance environment. Limited insurer options in some rural counties can result in higher negotiated rates for providers. The absence of Medicaid expansion reduces insurer competition for low-income populations, potentially affecting overall market pricing dynamics.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina
With over 1,280 active Brain MRI providers, South Carolina maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population of 5.2 million residents. This healthy provider-to-patient ratio helps keep costs competitive and reduces wait times for non-urgent imaging. The concentration of providers in major metropolitan areas may create supply shortages in rural regions, potentially driving up prices in underserved counties.
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 South Carolina
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in South Carolina without insurance?
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in South 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 South Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in South 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 |