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

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $632 at Scripps Green Hospital to $2,651 at Sharp Memorial Hospital, 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 Diego · code 70551

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

MRI scan of the brain without contrast dye — the standard first-look brain imaging study. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 10 San Diego-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$632

lowest median negotiated rate

Scripps Green Hospital

$2,651

highest (adult hospitals)

Sharp Memorial Hospital

4.2×

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 10 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-30 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-08-14

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At UC San Diego Health, the self-pay price is $1,774 — less than the $1,935 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 63 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $200 all-in for this procedure (387 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($632).

Avanee Peel — $42
Fatima Kazem — $50
Daniel Saurborn — $51
La Jolla Radiology Medical Group Therapy, Inc — $53

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