Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Tennessee
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Tennessee's healthcare costs run approximately 4% below the national average, reflecting the state's mix of rural communities and metropolitan centers like Nashville and Memphis. For Brain MRI services, Tennessee patients typically pay between $109 and $823, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $319 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 2,400 active Brain MRI providers across the state, patients can browse all providers in Tennessee to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$417
Median
$319
Lowest
$109
Highest
$823
Providers
2,409
13% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Tennessee?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $66 | $195 | $479 | 2,446 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $188 | $499 | 2,351 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $84 | $247 | $462 | 2,737 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $169 | $333 | 2,701 |
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 Tennessee
Tennessee's healthcare costs run approximately 4% below the national average, influenced by the state's lower cost of living and diverse mix of urban medical centers and rural healthcare facilities. The state's geographic spread from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River creates significant regional variations in both provider availability and pricing structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Major metropolitan areas like Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville offer concentrated Brain MRI services with multiple imaging centers and hospital systems competing for patients. Rural areas of Tennessee, particularly in the eastern mountain regions and western agricultural counties, have limited imaging facilities, often requiring patients to travel significant distances. This geographic disparity creates higher effective costs for rural residents due to travel time and potential overnight stays for imaging appointments.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers in Tennessee typically charge higher facility fees compared to independent radiology practices due to higher overhead costs and administrative complexity. Major health systems like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Baptist Health, and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare operate extensive imaging networks with premium pricing structures. Independent imaging centers often provide more competitive rates while maintaining similar quality standards and equipment.
Insurance Market Competition in Tennessee
Tennessee's insurance market shows moderate competition with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee holding significant market share alongside national carriers like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna. This competitive landscape allows insurers to negotiate varied rates with imaging providers, creating opportunities for cost-conscious patients to find better deals. The state's decision not to expand Medicaid has created a larger uninsured population, prompting many providers to offer competitive self-pay rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in Tennessee
With over 2,400 active Brain MRI providers across Tennessee, the state maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution means shorter wait times and competitive pricing in cities like Nashville and Memphis, while rural areas may experience longer scheduling delays and higher per-scan costs. The relatively robust provider network in major metropolitan areas helps keep costs competitive compared to states with more severe physician shortages.
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 Tennessee
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Tennessee without insurance?
Does Tennessee Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Tennessee?
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 |