How much does PET/CT scan cost in Tucson?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $3,595 at Tucson Medical Center to $4,005 at Banner University Medical Center South, 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 · PET/CT scan · Tucson · codes 78815, 78816

How much does a PET/CT scan cost in Tucson?

Whole-body PET scan combined with CT — most often used in cancer staging. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 2 Tucson-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$3,595

lowest median negotiated rate

Tucson Medical Center

$4,005

highest (adult hospitals)

Banner University Medical Center South

1.1×

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 2 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-02 → 2026-04-30 · retrieved 2026-08-08

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Banner University Medical Center South, the self-pay price is $2,237 — less than the $4,005 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

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