How much does Brain MRI (with and without contrast) cost in Phoenix?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $444 at Valleywise Health Medical Center to $2,776 at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 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 · Brain MRI (with and without contrast) · Phoenix · code 70553

How much does a brain MRI (with and without contrast) cost in Phoenix?

Brain MRI performed both before and after contrast dye injection. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 27 Phoenix-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$444

lowest median negotiated rate

Valleywise Health Medical Center

$2,776

highest (adult hospitals)

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

6.3×

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 27 hospitals · file dates 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-28 · retrieved 2026-08-03

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, the self-pay price is $520 — less than the $1,636 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 37 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $348 all-in for this procedure (225 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($444).

Ultrasound Institute Medical Group, Inc. — $69
Urprecious 3D Breast Ultrasound Llc — $76
Kempton & Nelson Diagnostics Llc — $81
True Imaging Lc — $81

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.

← Brain MRI (with and without contrast): overview