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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Bone Density Test Cost in Pennsylvania (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a bone density test cost in Pennsylvania?

The same bone density test in Pennsylvania might cost you $80 at one facility and $237 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 133 reporting hospitals is $166. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.

Where bone density test costs vary in Pennsylvania

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby imaging centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a bone density test depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest Bone Density Test Providers in Pennsylvania

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($166)
1 Jefferson Health - Northeast Langhorne, PA $51 $115 below
2 Lansdale Hospital Corp Lansdale, PA $51 $115 below
3 Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Inc. Philadelphia, PA $51 $115 below
4 UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $55 $111 below
5 Clarion Hospital PA $60 $106 below
6 Mount Nittany Health State College, PA $60 $106 below
7 Butler Healthcare Providers_ DBA Butler Memorial Hospital PA $60 $106 below
8 Monogahela Valley Hospital PA $60 $106 below

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost →  ·  When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →

Quick take

  • Jefferson Health - Northeast is the lowest-cost option at $51 - $115 below the median posted price ($166), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $154, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
Bone density test prices by coverage in Pennsylvania, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$107 to $107$107
With insurance (commercial, average)110$89 to $377$205
Without insurance (cash price)140$51 to $703$154
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield97$29 to $279$142
Aetna91$78 to $503$216
Cigna89$29 to $475$139
UnitedHealthcare76$27 to $360$147

Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.

How much does a bone density test cost with Medicare in Pennsylvania?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for bone density test is about $107 to $107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $21 on a $107 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.

How much does a bone density test cost with insurance in Pennsylvania?

Across 110 Pennsylvania hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for bone density test average $89 to $377 per hospital, with a median near $205. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.

Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.

How much does a bone density test cost without insurance in Pennsylvania?

Cash (self-pay) prices for bone density test at 140 Pennsylvania hospitals range from $51 to $703, with a median of $154. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.

Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.

How much does a bone density test cost with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pennsylvania?

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiated rates for bone density test at 97 Pennsylvania hospitals range from $29 to $279, with a median near $142. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.

Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.

How much does a bone density test cost with Aetna in Pennsylvania?

Aetna negotiated rates for bone density test at 91 Pennsylvania hospitals range from $78 to $503, with a median near $216. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a bone density test cost with Cigna in Pennsylvania?

Cigna negotiated rates for bone density test at 89 Pennsylvania hospitals range from $29 to $475, with a median near $139. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a bone density test cost with UnitedHealthcare in Pennsylvania?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for bone density test at 76 Pennsylvania hospitals range from $27 to $360, with a median near $147. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How where you go changes what you pay for bone density test

The same bone density test bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient
$100–$2,516
  • Facility fee $41–$2,300
  • Professional fee $59–$216

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$126–$957
  • Facility fee $67–$741
  • Professional fee $59–$216

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Pennsylvania has a highly fragmented hospital market - Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple Health, and Tower Health compete in Philadelphia; UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network are engaged in one of the country's most litigated payer-provider disputes in Pittsburgh. The UPMC vs. Highmark conflict has directly affected patients' ability to use their insurance at in-network facilities. Rural Pennsylvania prices are substantially lower than the two major metro markets.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (15) report prices above $738, including Physicians Care Surgical Hospital at $2,115, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $145 versus $338 inpatient (about 2.3× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$166
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$33
Out-of-network provider $365+

Frequently asked questions: bone density test costs in Pennsylvania

How much does a bone density test cost in Pennsylvania?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $39, with most facilities between $17 and $67 (based on 133 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Pennsylvania hospitals run $51–$703; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a bone density test in Pennsylvania?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Pennsylvania data is Jefferson Health - Northeast in Langhorne at about $51. By metro, Pittsburgh has the lowest median ($91). Independent imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is a bone density test so much cheaper at some Pennsylvania hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 3.9× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Pennsylvania, the median cash (self-pay) price is $154 versus a median negotiated rate of $205 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a bone density test in Pennsylvania?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

Before you book

Other procedures in Pennsylvania

Bone Density Test, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in Pennsylvania

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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