Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Wisconsin
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Wisconsin's healthcare system serves 5.9 million residents through a network of major health systems including Ascension Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, and Gundersen Health System, with Brain MRI services available across both urban centers and rural communities. Patients across the state can access over 4,000 Brain MRI providers, with negotiated insurance rates typically ranging from $80 to $2,464 depending on the specific imaging procedure and facility. Browse all available Brain MRI providers throughout Wisconsin to find the most affordable option for your specific insurance plan.
Average
$975
Median
$381
Lowest
$80
Highest
$2,464
Providers
4,163
104% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Wisconsin?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $73 | $139 | $1,001 | 5,766 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $73 | $181 | $1,477 | 6,596 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $239 | $2,090 | 5,417 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $73 | $154 | $863 | 4,270 |
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 Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Brain MRI costs run approximately 8% above the national average, reflecting the state's mix of high-cost urban markets in Milwaukee and Madison alongside more affordable rural communities. The state's robust healthcare infrastructure and competitive insurance market help moderate pricing compared to other Midwest states, though facility type and location create significant cost variations.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Milwaukee and Madison metro areas offer dozens of imaging centers with competitive pricing, while northern Wisconsin's rural counties may have limited options requiring patients to travel 50+ miles for Brain MRI services. Rural facilities often charge lower base rates but may lack weekend or evening availability, potentially requiring time off work that adds to total healthcare costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers affiliated with major systems like Ascension Wisconsin or Aurora Health Care typically charge premium rates due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Independent radiology practices and dedicated imaging centers throughout Wisconsin often provide identical Brain MRI quality at 30-50% lower costs, particularly in competitive markets like the Fox Cities and greater Milwaukee area.
Insurance Market Competition in Wisconsin
Strong competition between Anthem BCBS Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare, and regional players like WEA Trust creates favorable negotiated rates for Brain MRI procedures across most of the state. Wisconsin's relatively concentrated insurance market allows major carriers to negotiate competitive rates with provider networks, though rural areas with fewer provider options may see less aggressive rate negotiations.
Physician Supply and Demand in Wisconsin
With over 4,000 Brain MRI providers statewide, Wisconsin maintains adequate radiologist and neurologist supply in urban areas, though rural counties face ongoing specialist shortages. The strong provider density in major metropolitan areas creates competitive pricing and shorter wait times, while rural shortage areas may see higher costs and longer scheduling delays for non-emergency brain imaging.
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 Wisconsin
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Wisconsin without insurance?
Does Wisconsin Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Wisconsin?
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 Wisconsin?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Wisconsin?
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 |