Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Virginia's healthcare landscape features a mix of academic medical centers like UVA Health and VCU Health alongside growing outpatient imaging networks, creating competitive pricing for diagnostic services. Knee MRI patients typically pay between $44.80 and $569.32, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $171.99 across Virginia's 3,190 active imaging providers. The state's expanding ambulatory surgery center market and Medicaid expansion have improved access to MRI services from Northern Virginia's dense provider networks to rural Appalachian regions.
Average
$262
Median
$172
Lowest
$45
Highest
$569
Providers
3,190
2% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $76 | $265 | $970 | 3,183 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $49 | $157 | $553 | 3,167 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $60 | $214 | $514 | 2,957 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $41 | $134 | $371 | 2,895 |
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 Virginia
Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above national averages, reflecting the state's mix of high-cost Northern Virginia suburbs and more affordable rural regions. The state's growing ambulatory surgery center market and moderate regulatory environment have helped contain imaging costs compared to more restrictive northeastern states.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Northern Virginia's dense population corridor offers abundant imaging options with competitive pricing, while rural Southwest Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley have fewer facilities but often lower base costs. The Hampton Roads metropolitan area provides moderate pricing with good provider availability, though patients in far Southwest Virginia may face longer travel distances for specialized MRI services. Urban competition keeps prices in check, while rural areas compensate with lower overhead costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Virginia's major health systems including VCU Health, UVA Health, and Sentara operate hospital-based imaging departments with higher overhead costs than independent centers. Freestanding MRI facilities have proliferated throughout Virginia, offering competitive cash rates and often accepting a broader range of insurance plans. The state's certificate of need laws historically limited imaging equipment expansion, though recent deregulation has increased competition and improved pricing transparency.
Insurance Market Competition in Virginia
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield holds the largest market share in Virginia, followed by Optima Health in the Tidewater region and UnitedHealthcare in Northern Virginia. This moderate competition has produced reasonable negotiated rates for imaging services, though rural areas may have fewer insurer options. Regional insurers like Optima Health often negotiate competitive rates with local imaging centers, providing cost advantages for patients in their service areas.
Physician Supply and Demand in Virginia
Virginia's 3,190 active knee MRI providers indicate strong availability relative to the state's population, particularly in metropolitan areas around Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Northern Virginia. This healthy provider supply helps moderate pricing and reduces wait times for non-urgent imaging studies. Rural counties in Southwest Virginia have fewer imaging options, but telemedicine consultation and regional referral networks help connect patients with appropriate specialists for MRI interpretation.
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 Virginia
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Virginia without insurance?
Does Virginia Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Virginia?
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 Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Virginia?
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 |