How much does Brain MRI (without contrast) cost in Denver?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $518 at AdventHealth Avista to $5,080 at HCA HealthONE Rose, 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) · Denver · code 70551

How much does a brain MRI (without contrast) cost in Denver?

MRI scan of the brain without contrast dye — the standard first-look brain imaging study. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 22 Denver-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$518

lowest median negotiated rate

AdventHealth Avista

$5,080

highest (adult hospitals)

HCA HealthONE Rose

9.8×

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 22 hospitals · file dates 2025-11-01 → 2026-04-30 · retrieved 2026-08-15

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Children's Hospital Colorado, the self-pay price is $2,451 — less than the $2,660 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

← Brain MRI (without contrast): overview