Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Utah
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Utah's healthcare market operates approximately 2% below national averages, benefiting from strong regional competition between SelectHealth, BCBS Utah, and UHC. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $93.83 and $1044.95, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $390.79 across the state's 349 active providers. Utah residents can browse all Brain MRI specialists statewide to find the most cost-effective care for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$510
Median
$391
Lowest
$94
Highest
$1,045
Providers
349
7% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Utah?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $257 | $504 | 354 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $65 | $225 | $603 | 353 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $294 | $552 | 446 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $207 | $374 | 419 |
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 Utah
Utah's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's efficient regional health systems and competitive insurance market. The concentration of population along the Wasatch Front creates unique cost dynamics compared to the state's expansive rural territories.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Wasatch Front corridor from Ogden to Provo contains most of Utah's Brain MRI specialists, while rural counties often require patients to travel significant distances for care. This geographic concentration drives higher costs in urban areas due to demand, but also creates access challenges for residents in southeastern and southwestern Utah. Telehealth options have expanded to bridge some gaps, though hands-on neurological examinations still require in-person visits.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Utah's major health systems including Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health operate numerous hospital-based clinics that typically charge higher facility fees than independent practices. Academic medical centers command premium pricing due to specialized expertise and research capabilities, while community-based neurologists often provide more cost-effective options. Rural Utah providers may charge less for visits but have limited availability, creating trade-offs between cost and convenience.
Insurance Market Competition in Utah
SelectHealth's strong regional presence alongside BCBS Utah and UHC creates moderate competition that helps contain costs compared to monopolistic markets. The state's relatively small population allows insurers to maintain tighter provider networks, potentially limiting choices but improving negotiated rates. Regional insurers often have deeper relationships with local health systems, resulting in more favorable coverage terms for Utah-specific providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in Utah
With 349 active Brain MRI providers serving Utah's 3.3 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but experiences shortages in rural regions. This supply-demand imbalance contributes to longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas, while competition among Wasatch Front providers helps moderate pricing. The University of Utah's medical school and residency programs help maintain physician supply, though many graduates relocate to higher-paying markets after training.
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 Utah
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Utah without insurance?
Does Utah Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Utah?
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 Utah?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Utah?
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 |