Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Illinois
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Illinois healthcare spending ranks among the highest in the Midwest, driven largely by Chicago's concentration of academic medical centers and specialized imaging facilities. Knee MRI patients in Illinois typically encounter negotiated rates ranging from $68.78 to $595.19, with median costs around $221.02 for the standard imaging procedure. With over 7,000 active providers offering knee MRI services across the state, patients have substantial options for finding affordable care throughout Illinois's diverse healthcare landscape.
Average
$295
Median
$221
Lowest
$69
Highest
$595
Providers
7,078
10% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Illinois?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $93 | $317 | $842 | 5,703 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $76 | $186 | $553 | 6,155 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $289 | $537 | 8,716 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $167 | $346 | 7,047 |
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 Illinois
Illinois healthcare costs run approximately 10% above national averages, reflecting the state's concentration of high-cost academic medical centers in Chicago and limited rural provider options downstate. The dramatic urban-rural divide creates significant cost and access disparities for specialty imaging services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Chicago's medical district houses dozens of imaging facilities within a few square miles, while rural counties in southern Illinois may have only one or two options. This concentration allows for competitive pricing in metropolitan areas but can drive up costs in underserved regions. Patients in rural areas often travel 50+ miles to Chicago suburbs for specialized knee imaging.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging at systems like Northwestern Medicine or Rush typically costs 30-50% more than independent radiology centers due to higher overhead expenses. Academic medical centers command premium pricing for subspecialty musculoskeletal imaging expertise. Suburban imaging chains often offer the best combination of quality and affordability for routine knee MRIs.
Insurance Market Competition in Illinois
BCBS IL dominates the individual market while UHC and Aetna compete heavily for employer groups, creating varied negotiated rates across the state. The competitive insurance landscape generally benefits consumers through better negotiated rates. However, market concentration in certain regions can limit provider choice and maintain higher prices.
Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois
With over 7,000 active providers offering knee MRI services, Illinois maintains adequate radiologist supply in metropolitan areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This abundance in Chicago drives competitive pricing and shorter wait times, while downstate patients may face longer delays and higher costs. The robust provider network generally keeps pricing competitive compared to neighboring states.
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 Illinois
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Illinois without insurance?
Does Illinois Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Illinois?
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 |