Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Alabama
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alabama patients benefit from Knee MRI costs that run approximately 25% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower healthcare overhead and competitive provider landscape. Patients typically pay between $53 and $479 for a Knee MRI visit, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $163 across Alabama's 2,672 active providers. Alabama maintains a robust network of Knee MRI specialists throughout the state, allowing patients to browse all available providers and compare costs before booking their appointment.
Average
$232
Median
$163
Lowest
$53
Highest
$479
Providers
2,672
14% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Alabama?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $88 | $253 | $811 | 2,663 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $59 | $157 | $452 | 2,384 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $71 | $202 | $460 | 2,711 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $48 | $139 | $332 | 2,695 |
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 73721 — MRI any joint of lower extremity without 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 73721 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 73721 (MRI any joint of lower extremity without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 73721 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri knee. 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 Knee MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama
Alabama's healthcare costs run approximately 8% below national averages, driven by lower operational costs, modest real estate values, and competitive provider markets in key metropolitan areas. The state's mix of urban medical centers in Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville contrasts sharply with rural counties where provider access remains limited, creating significant cost and availability disparities across Alabama's diverse geography.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Alabama's rural counties, particularly in the Black Belt region, face significant challenges accessing specialized imaging services, often requiring patients to travel to Birmingham, Montgomery, or Mobile for Knee MRI appointments. Urban areas like Jefferson County and Mobile County maintain robust provider networks with multiple imaging centers competing on price and convenience. This geographic disparity means rural patients may face both higher travel costs and longer wait times, while urban patients benefit from competitive pricing and same-day availability.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers in Alabama typically charge higher facility fees compared to independent imaging centers, reflecting different overhead structures and billing practices. Major health systems like UAB Health System, Baptist Health, and Mobile Infirmary operate numerous hospital-affiliated imaging centers that may carry premium pricing but offer integrated care coordination. Freestanding imaging centers throughout Alabama often provide the most cost-effective option for routine MRI studies while maintaining comparable quality standards.
Insurance Market Competition in Alabama
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama maintains dominant market share across the state, limiting competitive pressure on negotiated rates compared to states with more diverse insurer participation. This market concentration creates predictable provider networks but may result in higher negotiated rates than in more competitive insurance markets. Limited competition from national insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna means fewer plan options for Alabama consumers, though employer-sponsored plans often provide better negotiated rates than individual market policies.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama
Alabama's 2,672 active Knee MRI providers represent solid availability relative to the state's population, indicating adequate supply in most metropolitan areas while rural regions continue experiencing provider shortages. This supply-demand balance helps maintain reasonable pricing pressure in urban markets like Birmingham and Huntsville, where multiple providers compete for patients. Rural areas with limited provider options may see higher prices due to reduced competition, though telemedicine consultation options are expanding access to specialist expertise across underserved Alabama communities.
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 — Knee MRI Costs in Alabama
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Alabama without insurance?
Does Alabama Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Alabama?
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 Knee MRI visit in Alabama?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Alabama?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 73721)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Range: $64 – $1,036 | $447 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,001 | $404 |
| 3 | Maine Range: $105 – $701 | $366 |
| 4 | Nevada Range: $80 – $642 | $357 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $59 – $697 | $336 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Range: $70 – $590 | $329 |
| 7 | Hawaii Range: $75 – $505 | $322 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $123 – $504 | $322 |
| 9 | Minnesota Range: $83 – $507 | $306 |
| 10 | Colorado Range: $60 – $642 | $299 |
| 11 | Washington Range: $59 – $505 | $297 |
| 12 | New Hampshire Range: $77 – $590 | $296 |
| 13 | Iowa Range: $80 – $516 | $296 |
| 14 | Illinois Range: $69 – $595 | $295 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $65 – $580 | $290 |
| 16 | Indiana Range: $59 – $595 | $284 |
| 17 | Vermont Range: $57 – $617 | $281 |
| 18 | New Mexico Range: $57 – $588 | $281 |
| 19 | West Virginia Range: $71 – $425 | $274 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $59 – $504 | $273 |
| 21 | District of Columbia Range: $53 – $560 | $272 |
| 22 | Louisiana Range: $55 – $429 | $270 |
| 23 | Rhode Island Range: $59 – $537 | $267 |
| 24 | Oregon Range: $75 – $393 | $265 |
| 25 | Virginia Range: $45 – $569 | $262 |
| 26 | New York Range: $48 – $582 | $262 |
| 27 | South Dakota Range: $131 – $327 | $262 |
| 28 | Alaska Range: $59 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | Idaho Range: $59 – $462 | $255 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $62 – $506 | $252 |
| 31 | Kansas Range: $65 – $504 | $249 |
| 32 | Montana Range: $59 – $358 | $248 |
| 33 | Tennessee Range: $66 – $479 | $247 |
| 34 | North Dakota Range: $83 – $327 | $246 |
| 35 | Kentucky Range: $59 – $492 | $242 |
| 36 | Missouri Range: $69 – $461 | $238 |
| 37 | Alabama Range: $53 – $479 | $232 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $506 | $232 |
| 39 | Texas Range: $59 – $464 | $230 |
| 40 | South Carolina Range: $58 – $468 | $230 |
| 41 | Delaware Range: $63 – $399 | $226 |
| 42 | California Range: $75 – $505 | $220 |
| 43 | Mississippi Range: $52 – $465 | $220 |
| 44 | Oklahoma Range: $55 – $464 | $219 |
| 45 | New Jersey Range: $47 – $466 | $219 |
| 46 | Maryland Range: $26 – $457 | $218 |
| 47 | Ohio Range: $45 – $452 | $214 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $472 | $211 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $66 – $327 | $192 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $479 | $191 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $59 – $350 | $183 |