How much does Brain MRI (without contrast) cost in San Francisco Bay Area?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $351 at Stanford Health Care to $4,131 at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, 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 (without contrast) · San Francisco Bay Area · code 70551

How much does a brain MRI (without contrast) cost in San Francisco Bay Area?

MRI scan of the brain without contrast dye — the standard first-look brain imaging study. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 27 San Francisco Bay Area-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$351

lowest median negotiated rate

Stanford Health Care

$4,131

highest (adult hospitals)

Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley

11.8×

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 27 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-01 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-08-15

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, the self-pay price is $3,252 — less than the $4,131 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 121 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $227 all-in for this procedure (780 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($351).

Francisco Lazaga — $39
Ka-Wah Tung — $42
Dipa Patel — $42
Christopher Govea — $42

All-in (global) negotiated fees from Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, 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 (without contrast): overview