Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Kentucky
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Kentucky's healthcare landscape benefits from Medicaid expansion and strong regional health systems, creating competitive pricing for specialty imaging services. Knee MRI patients across the Bluegrass State typically pay between $58.63 and $491.69, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $176.38 based on negotiated insurance rates. Kentucky maintains 218 active providers offering Knee MRI services, giving patients multiple options from Louisville to Lexington and rural communities throughout the state.
Average
$242
Median
$176
Lowest
$59
Highest
$492
Providers
218
10% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Kentucky?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $83 | $270 | $842 | 225 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $64 | $167 | $516 | 190 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $75 | $211 | $576 | 300 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $117 | $335 | 473 |
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 Kentucky
Kentucky's healthcare costs run approximately 5% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive insurance market dynamics. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural healthcare facilities creates distinct pricing patterns across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Kentucky's major metropolitan areas like Louisville and Lexington concentrate most specialty imaging services, while rural counties often lack advanced MRI capabilities. This geographic disparity forces some patients to travel significant distances for Knee MRI services, though mobile imaging units serve some underserved areas. Rural facilities that do offer MRI services may charge premium prices due to limited competition and higher per-scan overhead costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers in Kentucky typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices due to increased operational overhead. Major health systems like Baptist Health, Norton Healthcare, and UK HealthCare dominate the urban markets, while smaller community hospitals serve rural regions. Independent imaging centers often provide more competitive pricing but may have limited evening or weekend availability.
Insurance Market Competition in Kentucky
Kentucky's insurance landscape includes major carriers Anthem, UHC, and Humana competing for market share, creating moderate pricing pressure on negotiated rates. The state's individual marketplace offers multiple plan options, though rural counties may have fewer insurer choices. This competitive environment generally benefits consumers through more favorable negotiated rates with imaging providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in Kentucky
Kentucky maintains 218 active providers offering Knee MRI services, indicating adequate supply relative to the state's 4.5 million residents. This provider density suggests reasonable access and competitive pricing in most markets, though rural areas may experience longer wait times. The presence of major medical training programs at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville helps maintain a steady pipeline of radiologists and imaging technologists.
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 Kentucky
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Kentucky without insurance?
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Kentucky?
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 |