Washington

Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Washington

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

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Washington state's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above the national average, reflecting the region's concentration of advanced medical facilities and competitive provider market. Knee MRI procedures in Washington typically range from $58.90 to $505.32, with a median cost of $327.00 based on negotiated insurance rates across 3,351 active providers statewide. Patients can browse all Knee MRI providers throughout Washington to compare costs and find in-network options that fit their budget.

Average

$297

Median

$327

Lowest

$59

Highest

$505

Providers

3,351

National avg: $268Washington: $297

11% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Washington?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$100	$503	$863	3,337
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$65	$368	$2,851	5,422
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$79	$267	$1,834	4,596
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$54	$171	$384	3,423

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 Washington

Washington's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above national averages, driven by the state's concentration of major medical centers in Seattle and Tacoma, plus higher operating costs associated with the region's elevated cost of living. The Puget Sound region's dominance creates pricing pressure that extends throughout the state's healthcare system.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

The Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area contains the majority of Washington's advanced imaging facilities, while rural counties east of the Cascades often require patients to travel significant distances for knee MRI services. This geographic disparity creates both access challenges and cost variations, with rural facilities sometimes charging premium rates due to limited competition but also offering lower overhead-based pricing in other cases.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Major health systems like UW Medicine, MultiCare, and Providence dominate Washington's hospital-based imaging market, typically charging higher facility fees than independent radiology groups. These academic and large health system facilities often justify premium pricing through subspecialized musculoskeletal radiologists and advanced 3-Tesla MRI technology, though the clinical benefit may not always warrant the additional cost for routine knee imaging.

Insurance Market Competition in Washington

Washington's insurance landscape features healthy competition between Premera, Regence, Kaiser, and UHC, preventing the market concentration seen in some states but not creating the aggressive price competition found in more saturated markets. The state's insurance exchange offers multiple carrier options in most counties, giving consumers leverage in plan selection but resulting in negotiated rates that vary significantly between insurers for identical services.

Physician Supply and Demand in Washington

With 3,351 active providers offering knee MRI services, Washington maintains adequate radiologist supply in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This relatively robust provider network in metropolitan areas creates moderate price competition among facilities, though demand from the state's growing population and active outdoor lifestyle keeps utilization rates high and prevents dramatic price reductions.

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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 Washington

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

Without insurance, knee MRI costs in Washington range from $58.90 to $505.32, with a median cost of $327.00 based on negotiated rates across 3,351 providers statewide. Self-pay patients often receive discounts of 20-40% off standard rates when paying upfront. Many facilities also offer payment plans to help manage the cost of this diagnostic procedure.

Does Washington Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?

Yes, Washington's expanded Medicaid program covers knee MRIs when medically necessary, typically requiring prior authorization through managed care plans. Coverage is available for eligible low-income adults, with most procedures requiring documentation of failed conservative treatments first. Patients should verify their specific plan requirements, as some Medicaid plans have preferred imaging facility networks.

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

Compare costs between hospital-based facilities and independent imaging centers, as independents often charge 50-70% less for identical procedures. Ask about self-pay discounts, which can reduce costs by 20-40% for uninsured patients. Community health centers and federally qualified health centers throughout Washington may also offer sliding-scale pricing based on income.

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

Knee MRI procedures themselves have consistent pricing regardless of whether it's your first visit or follow-up imaging, with costs ranging from $58.90 to $505.32 across Washington providers. However, the radiologist consultation fees and any additional physician visits to discuss results may vary. Follow-up scans to monitor treatment progress typically cost the same as initial diagnostic imaging.

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

Yes, knee MRIs are qualified medical expenses that can be paid for using HSA or FSA funds in Washington. These pre-tax dollars can cover the full cost of medically necessary imaging, including any facility fees and radiologist interpretation charges. Keep all receipts and documentation, as some HSA/FSA administrators may require proof of medical necessity for reimbursement.

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

While the MRI scan itself must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine consultations can reduce overall costs by eliminating the need for separate office visits to discuss results. Many Washington radiologists and orthopedic specialists offer virtual follow-up appointments to review MRI findings, typically costing $75-150 less than in-person consultations. However, initial evaluations usually require physical examination before ordering imaging studies.

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