Idaho

Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Idaho

Name: MRI Knee Cost in Idaho (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Idaho's rural geography creates unique healthcare access challenges, with many residents traveling long distances to reach specialized imaging centers in urban areas. Knee MRI costs across the state range from $58.90 to $462.38, with most patients paying around $243.39 out-of-pocket depending on their insurance coverage and chosen facility. With 140 active providers offering these services throughout Idaho, patients have multiple options for obtaining quality knee imaging while managing their healthcare expenses.

Average

$255

Median

$243

Lowest

$59

Highest

$462

Providers

140

National avg: $268Idaho: $255

5% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Idaho?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$88	$403	$793	136
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$65	$287	$2,851	178
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$79	$203	$1,834	202
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$54	$171	$321	167

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.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Knee MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Idaho

Idaho's healthcare costs run approximately 3% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and reduced urban density compared to coastal regions. However, the state's vast rural territories create access challenges that can drive up costs for patients who must travel significant distances to reach specialized imaging facilities.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

The Boise metropolitan area concentrates most of Idaho's advanced imaging capabilities, while rural counties often lack local MRI facilities entirely. Patients in eastern Idaho near the Montana border or in the state's northern panhandle may face 2-3 hour drives to access knee MRI services, creating additional travel costs and time burdens.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Saint Alphonsus and St. Luke's Health System dominate Idaho's hospital-based imaging market, typically charging premium rates for their services. Independent radiology centers and outpatient facilities offer more competitive pricing, particularly in suburban Boise and Coeur d'Alene areas where multiple providers compete for patient volume.

Insurance Market Competition in Idaho

The concentration of market share between Regence BlueCross and PacificSource limits competitive pressure on negotiated rates with imaging providers. This insurer consolidation can result in higher contracted prices compared to states with more diverse insurance markets, though Idaho's overall lower cost structure helps offset this disadvantage.

Physician Supply and Demand in Idaho

With 140 active providers offering knee MRI services statewide, Idaho maintains adequate imaging capacity relative to its population of 1.9 million residents. This reasonable supply-demand balance helps keep pricing competitive, though geographic maldistribution means rural patients still face access barriers despite statewide adequacy.

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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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Knee MRI Costs in Idaho

What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Idaho without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Idaho typically pay between $58.90 and $462.38 for knee MRI imaging, with a median cost of $243.39 across the state's 140 providers. Independent imaging centers often offer the lowest rates, while hospital-based facilities charge premium prices. Many providers offer significant cash-pay discounts that can reduce these costs by 30-50% for self-pay patients.

Does Idaho Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?

Yes, Idaho's expanded Medicaid program covers medically necessary knee MRI procedures when ordered by a physician to diagnose injury or evaluate chronic pain conditions. Coverage includes both the imaging procedure and radiologist interpretation, though prior authorization may be required for non-emergency cases. Patients typically have no out-of-pocket costs for covered services under Medicaid expansion.

How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Idaho?

Compare prices between independent imaging centers and hospital-based facilities, as independents often charge 40-60% less for identical services. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider community health centers in rural areas that may offer sliding fee scales. Traveling to suburban areas outside Boise may yield lower costs than downtown medical facilities.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

The knee MRI procedure itself costs $58.90 to $462.38 regardless of whether it's ordered during an initial evaluation or follow-up appointment. However, the physician consultation fees vary, with new patient visits typically costing $150-300 more than established patient follow-ups due to comprehensive history-taking and examination requirements.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee MRI visit in Idaho?

Yes, knee MRI imaging qualifies as a qualified medical expense under both Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account rules when ordered by a physician for diagnostic purposes. You can use pre-tax dollars to pay for both the imaging procedure and any related consultation fees. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Idaho?

While the MRI procedure itself must be performed in person, initial consultations and follow-up appointments to discuss results can often be conducted via telehealth at reduced costs. Idaho's rural geography makes telemedicine particularly valuable for follow-up visits, saving patients travel time and expenses. Telehealth consultations typically cost 20-30% less than in-person visits while maintaining quality care standards.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$183

$447

Office visit (CPT 73721)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	Georgia(GA) Range: $64 – $1,036	$447	$64	$1,036	3,069
2	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $1,001	$404	$73	$1,001	5,766
3	Maine(ME) Range: $105 – $701	$366	$105	$701	1,696
4	Nevada(NV) Range: $80 – $642	$357	$80	$642	2,603
5	Wyoming(WY) Range: $59 – $697	$336	$59	$697	183
6	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $70 – $590	$329	$70	$590	1,753
7	Hawaii(HI) Range: $75 – $505	$322	$75	$505	106
8	Nebraska(NE) Range: $123 – $504	$322	$123	$504	2,645
9	Minnesota(MN) Range: $83 – $507	$306	$83	$507	3,234
10	Colorado(CO) Range: $60 – $642	$299	$60	$642	1,531
11	Washington(WA) Range: $59 – $505	$297	$59	$505	3,351
12	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $77 – $590	$296	$77	$590	3,687
13	Iowa(IA) Range: $80 – $516	$296	$80	$516	523
14	Illinois(IL) Range: $69 – $595	$295	$69	$595	7,078
15	North Carolina(NC) Range: $65 – $580	$290	$65	$580	2,625
16	Indiana(IN) Range: $59 – $595	$284	$59	$595	374
17	Vermont(VT) Range: $57 – $617	$281	$57	$617	342
18	New Mexico(NM) Range: $57 – $588	$281	$57	$588	1,220
19	West Virginia(WV) Range: $71 – $425	$274	$71	$425	275
20	Utah(UT) Range: $59 – $504	$273	$59	$504	354
21	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $53 – $560	$272	$53	$560	333
22	Louisiana(LA) Range: $55 – $429	$270	$55	$429	1,325
23	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $59 – $537	$267	$59	$537	84
24	Oregon(OR) Range: $75 – $393	$265	$75	$393	711
25	Virginia(VA) Range: $45 – $569	$262	$45	$569	3,190
26	New York(NY) Range: $48 – $582	$262	$48	$582	31,869
27	South Dakota(SD) Range: $131 – $327	$262	$131	$327	320
28	Alaska(AK) Range: $59 – $527	$261	$59	$527	47
29	Idaho(ID) Range: $59 – $462	$255	$59	$462	140
30	Michigan(MI) Range: $62 – $506	$252	$62	$506	2,225
31	Kansas(KS) Range: $65 – $504	$249	$65	$504	1,844
32	Montana(MT) Range: $59 – $358	$248	$59	$358	98
33	Tennessee(TN) Range: $66 – $479	$247	$66	$479	2,446
34	North Dakota(ND) Range: $83 – $327	$246	$83	$327	646
35	Kentucky(KY) Range: $59 – $492	$242	$59	$492	218
36	Missouri(MO) Range: $69 – $461	$238	$69	$461	5,342
37	Alabama(AL) Range: $53 – $479	$232	$53	$479	2,672
38	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $55 – $506	$232	$55	$506	1,965
39	Texas(TX) Range: $59 – $464	$230	$59	$464	9,215
40	South Carolina(SC) Range: $58 – $468	$230	$58	$468	1,323
41	Delaware(DE) Range: $63 – $399	$226	$63	$399	201
42	California(CA) Range: $75 – $505	$220	$75	$505	10,126
43	Mississippi(MS) Range: $52 – $465	$220	$52	$465	1,307
44	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $55 – $464	$219	$55	$464	2,142
45	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $47 – $466	$219	$47	$466	7,266
46	Maryland(MD) Range: $26 – $457	$218	$26	$457	4,019
47	Ohio(OH) Range: $45 – $452	$214	$45	$452	4,556
48	Connecticut(CT) Range: $55 – $472	$211	$55	$472	891
49	Arkansas(AR) Range: $66 – $327	$192	$66	$327	128
50	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $479	$191	$35	$479	4,991
51	Arizona(AZ) Range: $59 – $350	$183	$59	$350	5,301