How much does a knee MRI cost in Houston?
MRI scan of the knee without contrast — commonly ordered for meniscus and ligament injuries. 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.
$378
lowest median negotiated rate
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital
$10,632
highest (adult hospitals)
HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood
28.1×
price spread
same procedure, same metro
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 $232 — less than the $640 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
$190 all-in for this procedure (313 insurer
rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($378).
- X-Ray Mobile Texas Inc — $38
- X-Ray Mobile Texas Inc — $49
- Universal Mri And Diagnostics Inc — $49
- North Houston X-Ray,Inc — $49