How much does Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) cost in Houston?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $550 at Ben Taub Hospital to $5,961 at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes. Several hospitals publish discounted cash prices below the rates insurers negotiate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the self-pay price.

Why do prices differ so much between hospitals?

Each hospital negotiates rates separately with each insurer, and hospitals in the same health system usually share one contract. The same procedure with the same insurer can cost several times more across town.

Costs · Imaging · Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) · Houston · code 74177

How much does an abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) cost in Houston?

CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast dye — a common workup for abdominal pain. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 20 Houston-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$550

lowest median negotiated rate

Ben Taub Hospital

$5,961

highest (adult hospitals)

HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe

10.8×

price spread

same procedure, same metro

Rates shown

Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt

cash (self-pay) price

Hospital	Gross charge	Cash price	Negotiated	Range	# rates	vs median

* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.

SOURCE: standard-charges files from 20 hospitals · file dates 2026-02-28 → 2026-07-01 · retrieved 2026-08-03 → 2026-08-04

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Ben Taub Hospital, the self-pay price is $343 — less than the $550 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 58 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $239 all-in for this procedure (313 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($550).

X-Ray Mobile Texas Inc — $50
Universal Mri And Diagnostics Inc — $66
North Houston X-Ray,Inc — $66
X-Ray Mobile Texas Inc — $66

All-in (global) negotiated fees from Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare's federally mandated Transparency-in-Coverage files, newest dated 2026-08-01; hospital bars above show the facility fee only — a physician fee is usually billed on top. Estimates — confirm with the provider.

← Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast): overview