Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in West Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
West Virginia's mountainous terrain and rural healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for accessing specialized imaging services across the state's 55 counties. Brain MRI costs typically range from $98 to $687, with a median negotiated rate of $552 based on insurance agreements with 268 active providers statewide. Patients can browse all Brain MRI providers in West Virginia to compare costs and find the most affordable option for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$446
Median
$552
Lowest
$98
Highest
$687
Providers
268
7% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in West Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $71 | $327 | $425 | 275 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $79 | $368 | $418 | 265 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $76 | $229 | $1,842 | 186 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $171 | $317 | 229 |
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 West Virginia
West Virginia's Brain MRI costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and rural healthcare economics. The Mountain State's challenging geography and sparse population density create unique cost pressures for high-tech imaging services across its 55 counties.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington serve as regional imaging hubs, while many rural counties lack MRI facilities entirely, forcing patients to travel significant distances. This geographic disparity can increase total costs when factoring in travel time and expenses. Urban centers typically have more competitive pricing due to multiple facility options, while rural areas may have limited choices.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, common at WVU Medicine and Charleston Area Medical Center, typically charge more than independent radiology clinics due to higher overhead costs. Many facilities are affiliated with larger health systems, which can affect pricing structures and insurance negotiations. Standalone imaging centers often offer more competitive rates but may have limited evening or weekend availability.
Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia
The state's insurance market is relatively concentrated, with Highmark West Virginia, UnitedHealthCare, and Aetna holding significant market share, potentially limiting competitive pressure on negotiated rates. This concentration can result in fewer provider network options in some regions. Rural areas may have particularly limited in-network choices, affecting patient costs and access.
Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia
West Virginia has 268 active providers offering Brain MRI services, a reasonable supply given the state's population of 1.8 million residents. However, the distribution is uneven, with most specialists concentrated in Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington areas. This geographic maldistribution can create longer wait times and higher costs in underserved rural regions.
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 West Virginia
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in West Virginia without insurance?
Does West Virginia Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in West 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 West Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in West 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 |