Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Virginia's healthcare market operates roughly 3% above national cost averages, with Anthem, Optima Health, and UHC dominating the insurance landscape across the Commonwealth. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $75.81 and $970.04, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $265.02 based on negotiated insurance rates. Virginia maintains over 3,100 active Brain MRI providers, allowing patients to browse multiple options for cost and convenience across the state.
Average
$437
Median
$265
Lowest
$76
Highest
$970
Providers
3,183
9% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $45 | $172 | $569 | 3,190 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $49 | $157 | $553 | 3,167 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $60 | $214 | $514 | 2,957 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $41 | $134 | $371 | 2,895 |
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 Virginia
Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above national averages, driven by high-income Northern Virginia markets and competitive academic medical centers in Richmond and Charlottesville. The Commonwealth's diverse geography creates distinct cost corridors, from premium-priced Metro DC suburbs to more affordable rural Appalachian and Southside regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Northern Virginia and the Richmond-Norfolk corridor contain the majority of Virginia's Brain MRI specialists, while rural counties in Southwest Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley face significant access challenges. Urban concentration drives competitive pricing in metro areas but creates travel burdens for rural patients seeking specialized neuroimaging services. Telemedicine consultation has improved access, though in-person imaging remains necessary.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers typically charge 40-60% more than independent radiology practices across Virginia. Major health systems like VCU Health, UVA Health, and Sentara dominate expensive urban markets, while smaller community hospitals serve rural areas with more limited imaging capabilities. Ambulatory surgery centers and specialty imaging facilities offer middle-ground pricing options in competitive markets.
Insurance Market Competition in Virginia
Anthem holds the largest market share statewide, while Optima Health dominates Hampton Roads and UHC maintains strong Northern Virginia presence. This three-way competition helps moderate negotiated rates compared to single-insurer markets, though rural counties often have fewer plan options. The state's moderate regulatory approach allows insurers to design narrow networks that can reduce premium costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in Virginia
Virginia's 3,100+ Brain MRI providers indicate robust specialist availability relative to the state's 8.6 million residents, concentrated heavily in urban teaching hospital markets. This adequate supply helps maintain competitive pricing and reasonable wait times in metro areas, while rural regions experience both provider shortages and higher per-visit costs. Medical school programs at UVA, VCU, and Eastern Virginia Medical School continue producing new radiologists and neurologists for the state market.
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 Virginia
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Virginia without insurance?
Does Virginia Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Virginia?
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 Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Virginia?
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 |