Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Nebraska
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Nebraska's healthcare system benefits from Medicaid expansion and a relatively balanced urban-rural provider distribution, though patients still face significant cost variation for specialty imaging services. Knee MRI patients typically pay between $123 and $504, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $339 across the state's 2,645 active providers. Browse all Knee MRI providers in Nebraska to compare costs and find the best option for your specific insurance plan.
Average
$322
Median
$339
Lowest
$123
Highest
$504
Providers
2,645
20% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Nebraska?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $208 | $511 | $793 | 2,641 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $129 | $324 | $477 | 2,648 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $116 | $416 | $753 | 2,223 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $108 | $214 | $415 | 2,647 |
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 Nebraska
Nebraska's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and balanced mix of rural and metropolitan healthcare markets. The state's geographic spread creates distinct cost patterns, with higher-priced services concentrated around Omaha and Lincoln while rural areas often struggle with limited provider options.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Nebraska's two major metropolitan areas, Omaha and Lincoln, concentrate most specialty imaging services, while rural counties often require patients to travel significant distances for Knee MRI services. This geographic imbalance creates higher costs in urban areas due to increased demand and facility overhead, but also limits competition in rural regions. Some rural Nebraska residents may face 100+ mile drives to access imaging services, adding travel costs to their healthcare expenses.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital systems like Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health operate many imaging centers throughout the state, typically charging higher facility fees than independent imaging centers. These health system-owned facilities often have higher overhead costs due to hospital affiliations and may include additional fees for hospital-based services. Independent imaging centers in Nebraska frequently offer more competitive pricing, especially for self-pay patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Nebraska
The Nebraska insurance market features moderate competition with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska holding significant market share alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. This concentration allows insurers to negotiate competitive rates with providers, contributing to the state's below-average healthcare costs. However, limited insurer options in some rural counties can reduce negotiating power and potentially increase patient costs in those areas.
Physician Supply and Demand in Nebraska
With 2,645 active Knee MRI providers serving the state's 1.9 million residents, Nebraska maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates longer wait times and potentially higher costs in underserved areas, while urban competition helps moderate pricing. The state's medical schools and residency programs help maintain provider supply, though rural recruitment remains challenging.
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 Nebraska
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Nebraska without insurance?
Does Nebraska Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Nebraska?
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 Nebraska?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Nebraska?
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 |