Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Delaware
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Delaware's concentrated healthcare market, dominated by three major health systems serving just three counties, creates unique pricing dynamics for medical imaging services. Knee MRI patients across the First State typically pay between $63 and $399, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $215 based on negotiated insurance rates from 201 active providers. Browse all Delaware Knee MRI providers to compare costs and find the most affordable option for your specific insurance plan.
Average
$226
Median
$215
Lowest
$63
Highest
$399
Providers
201
16% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Delaware?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $98 | $340 | $596 | 199 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $66 | $203 | $363 | 187 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $73 | $225 | $651 | 103 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $177 | $273 | 205 |
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 Delaware
Delaware's healthcare costs run approximately 11% above national averages, driven by limited insurer competition and the state's small geographic footprint that concentrates most specialists in New Castle County. The First State's unique position between major metropolitan markets influences pricing, as providers compete with Philadelphia and Baltimore facilities for complex cases.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Most of Delaware's 201 Knee MRI providers cluster in New Castle County around Wilmington, leaving Kent and Sussex counties with fewer options and longer travel times for specialized care. This geographic concentration drives up costs in rural areas where patients have limited choices, while urban areas benefit from more competitive pricing. Southern Delaware residents often travel north for specialized imaging, adding transportation costs to their total healthcare expenses.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
ChristianaCare and Bayhealth dominate Delaware's hospital market, with their imaging centers typically charging premium rates due to academic affiliations and higher overhead costs. Independent imaging centers and outpatient facilities offer lower-cost alternatives, particularly in suburban areas where real estate and staffing costs are reduced. Hospital-based facilities often include facility fees that can double the total cost compared to freestanding centers.
Insurance Market Competition in Delaware
Delaware's small population supports only three major insurers - Highmark, Aetna, and UHC - creating limited competition that keeps negotiated rates higher than in larger states. This concentrated market gives insurers less leverage to negotiate aggressive discounts with the state's major health systems. The lack of a robust individual marketplace also limits consumer choice and price competition.
Physician Supply and Demand in Delaware
With 201 active Knee MRI providers serving under one million residents, Delaware maintains adequate specialist availability compared to national averages, though distribution favors northern counties. This reasonable supply-to-demand ratio helps moderate pricing somewhat, though the concentration of specialists in New Castle County creates access challenges for downstate residents. Wait times for routine Knee MRI appointments typically range from one to three weeks, indicating balanced supply and demand.
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 Delaware
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Delaware without insurance?
Does Delaware Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Delaware?
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 Delaware?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Delaware?
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 |