Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Washington
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Washington's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above national averages, reflecting the state's competitive insurance market dominated by Premera, Regence, Kaiser, and UHC. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $99 and $863, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $503 based on negotiated insurance rates. Washington maintains over 3,300 active Brain MRI providers across urban centers like Seattle and Spokane as well as rural communities, giving patients multiple options to browse providers statewide.
Average
$489
Median
$503
Lowest
$100
Highest
$863
Providers
3,337
2% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Washington?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $327 | $505 | 3,351 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $65 | $368 | $2,851 | 5,422 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $267 | $1,834 | 4,596 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $171 | $384 | 3,423 |
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 Washington
Washington's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living and concentrated population centers in the Puget Sound region. The state's unique geography, from dense urban areas like Seattle-Tacoma to sparse rural counties in eastern Washington, creates significant variation in provider availability and pricing.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Seattle and surrounding King County contain the highest concentration of Brain MRI providers, creating competitive pricing and shorter wait times compared to rural areas. Eastern Washington counties often have limited imaging options, requiring some patients to travel significant distances and potentially pay higher rates due to reduced competition.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, particularly those affiliated with major systems like UW Medicine and MultiCare, typically charge higher facility fees than independent imaging centers. Seattle's competitive market has fostered growth in standalone imaging facilities that often offer more transparent pricing and lower overhead costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Washington
The presence of four major insurers (Premera, Regence, Kaiser, and UHC) creates moderate competition that helps control negotiated rates for Brain MRI services. However, market concentration varies by region, with some areas having limited insurer options that can affect pricing leverage and patient choice.
Physician Supply and Demand in Washington
Washington's 3,300+ active Brain MRI providers indicate a relatively robust supply of imaging services, particularly in urban areas where multiple radiologists compete for patients. This healthy provider-to-population ratio helps maintain competitive pricing and reasonable appointment availability in most metropolitan areas.
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 Washington
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Washington without insurance?
Does Washington Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Washington?
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 Washington?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Washington?
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 |