Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in South Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Dakota's rural healthcare infrastructure presents unique challenges, with over 60% of the state's counties designated as medically underserved areas. Brain MRI costs reflect this geographic reality, with patients typically paying between negotiated rates of $247 to $552 depending on facility type and location. South Dakota maintains 321 active Brain MRI providers across the state, allowing patients to browse options from Sioux Falls medical centers to smaller regional facilities throughout the Mount Rushmore State.
Average
$450
Median
$552
Lowest
$247
Highest
$552
Providers
321
6% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in South Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $130 | $327 | $327 | 320 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $142 | $368 | $368 | 323 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $268 | $2,156 | 88 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $134 | $171 | $222 | 321 |
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 Dakota
South Dakota's Brain MRI costs run approximately 57% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and concentrated provider network. The Mount Rushmore State's sparse population density creates unique cost pressures as medical facilities must serve large geographic areas with fewer patients to spread overhead costs.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Brain MRI services concentrate heavily in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, with limited options in rural counties covering thousands of square miles. Patients in western South Dakota often travel over 100 miles to reach specialized neuroimaging facilities, adding transportation costs to their care. This geographic disparity creates higher demand and pricing power for urban providers while leaving rural residents with fewer cost-saving alternatives.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Sanford Health and Avera Health systems dominate South Dakota's hospital market, with their outpatient imaging centers typically charging premium rates compared to independent facilities. Hospital-based Brain MRI services carry additional facility fees that can double the total cost versus standalone imaging centers. The state's harsh winters and infrastructure challenges increase operational costs for all healthcare facilities, particularly those maintaining expensive MRI equipment.
Insurance Market Competition in South Dakota
Limited insurer competition between Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare reduces pricing pressure on Brain MRI services throughout the state. This concentrated market allows insurers to negotiate less aggressively with providers, often resulting in higher allowed amounts that translate to increased patient costs. Rural areas face even less competition, with some counties served by only one or two insurance options.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Dakota
With 321 active Brain MRI providers serving fewer than 900,000 residents, South Dakota maintains adequate specialist coverage in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The state's physician recruitment challenges, particularly in radiology and neurology, create pricing power for existing providers. Long wait times for appointments in some areas allow facilities to maintain higher pricing without losing patient volume.
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 Dakota
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in South Dakota without insurance?
Does South Dakota Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in South Dakota?
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 Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in South Dakota?
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 |