CT Scan Cost: Average Prices With and Without Insurance

How much does a CT scan cost? CT scan costs vary significantly by location and insurance type. Medicare allows $62–$83, while hospitals charge $250–$958 for uninsured patients. Commercial insurance negotiates rates between $137–$332 depending on your state. Use the interactive map and state-by-state data below to compare costs across all 50 states and discover what you'd likely pay.

Jump to:

• See the National Guide • Average CT Scan Cost • Cost by State • What Affects CT Scan Prices • Insurance Cost Breakdown • Estimate Your Cost

See the National Guide

Want to compare all body areas? How Much Does a CT Scan Cost Across All Body Areas? — Our comprehensive national guide covers head, chest, and abdomen CT pricing with costs in major cities and tips for managing imaging expenses.

Compare CT Scan Costs in All 50 States

State costs vary significantly—a scan that costs $600 in Georgia might run $1,200 in Massachusetts. The map below shows the cost range in each state. Click any state to see detailed pricing breakdown and estimated out-of-pocket costs.

See detailed CT scan pricing in every state, including Medicare rates, commercial insurance ranges, and typical hospital cash prices.

CT Scan Cost by State

Explore Other CT Scan Types

CT scans vary by body area. See detailed pricing for other CT scan types:

• CT Head Scan Cost — Trauma, stroke, headache imaging
• CT Chest Scan Cost — Lung, pulmonary, cardiac imaging

Average CT Scan Cost in the United States

What You'll Pay: Depends on your insurance stage. If you've met your deductible and have 20% coinsurance, you'll pay roughly 20% of the allowed amount, typically $12–$67 out-of-pocket.

The wide range reflects regional differences in labor costs, facility types, and negotiation leverage. Alaska and the Northeast (NY, NJ, CA, MA) charge 2–3× more than Southern states (MS, AR, AL).

Facility Type Matters

• Hospital Outpatient Department: $600–$1,200 initial charge
• Imaging Center: 20–40% cheaper ($360–$960), same quality imaging
• Emergency Department: 30–50% surcharge on top of base CT cost

How Much Does a CT Scan Cost With Insurance?

When you have insurance coverage, your out-of-pocket cost depends on three factors: your annual deductible, coinsurance percentage, and out-of-pocket maximum. Most insured patients with 20% coinsurance pay $30–$67 out-of-pocket for a CT scan after meeting their deductible. Without insurance, patients typically negotiate hospital charges down to $700–$980 from the original $1,200–$1,400 list price.

The key is knowing your plan's allowed amount before your scan. Insurance companies negotiate lower rates than hospital list prices, so the allowed amount is what actually matters for your cost estimate. Learn more about deductibles and coinsurance below.

CT Scan Cost by State: Highest and Lowest Price States

The table below highlights the highest-cost and lowest-cost states based on commercial insurance negotiated rates for CT scans.

What Affects the Cost of a CT Scan

Hospital vs Imaging Center

Hospital outpatient departments charge more than independent imaging centers—often 20–40% higher for the identical procedure. This is due to:

• Higher overhead costs at hospitals (staff, facilities, compliance)
• Negotiating power — large insurers push imaging centers to competitive rates
• Insurance contract differences — some plans pay imaging centers less, discouraging use

Recommendation: If your physician allows it, ask about imaging center alternatives. You'll save money and often get faster appointment availability. For example, a CT scan that costs $600–$1,200 at a hospital outpatient department might cost just $360–$960 at an independent imaging center.

Insurance Negotiated Rates

Your insurance plan determines what it will pay, not the hospital's chargemaster. This is critical to understand when budgeting for your CT scan:

• Medicare sets rates nationally with geographic adjustments ($62–$83 for CT scans)
• Commercial insurance negotiates region-by-region (rates vary wildly: $137–$332)
• Medicaid varies by state; some states pay 60–85% of Medicare rates

The hospital bills the full chargemaster amount ($1,000+), but your insurance pays its negotiated rate. You pay your portion based on your plan design—typically 20–30% after meeting your deductible.

With vs Without Insurance

Insured: You pay a percentage (coinsurance) after meeting your deductible. Typical: 20–30% coinsurance = $30–$67 out-of-pocket for a $150 allowed amount, but could be $150+ if you haven't yet met your $500–$3,000 annual deductible.

Uninsured: Hospitals bill the full chargemaster ($1,200–$1,400), but uninsured patients can often negotiate 20–40% discounts for upfront payment. Real out-of-pocket: $700–$980. This is actually often comparable to or cheaper than what insured patients pay in coinsurance.

Key insight: Even uninsured, you can negotiate below list price. Don't pay chargemaster rates without asking. Call the hospital's billing department before your scan and ask for a cash discount or payment plan.

How Insurance Changes Your CT Scan Price

Insurance deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums directly impact what you pay for a CT scan. Here's how each factor works:

Deductible ($500–$3,000/year, depending on plan)

• Before you meet your deductible, you pay 100% of the allowed amount
• After deductible is met, insurance starts sharing costs via coinsurance

Coinsurance (typically 20–30%)

• After deductible: you pay this %, insurance pays the rest
• Example: $150 allowed amount (typical for CT scan) with 20% coinsurance = $30 you pay, $120 insurance pays

Out-of-Pocket Maximum ($2,000–$8,000/year)

• Once you hit your OOP max, insurance pays 100% for the rest of the year
• Important to track during high-utilization years

Example Scenario:

• Plan: $2,000 deductible, 20% coinsurance, $5,000 OOP max
• You haven't met your deductible this year
• CT scan allowed amount: $150
• You pay: $150 (full amount toward deductible)
• If you had already met the deductible: You'd pay: $30 (20% coinsurance)

➡ Use our forecast tool to estimate your exact out-of-pocket cost—enter your deductible, coinsurance, and OOP max to see what you'd pay.

Estimate Your CT Scan Cost With Insurance

Know your cost before your scan. Use our forecast tool to estimate your out-of-pocket cost based on your actual plan details.

What you'll need:

• Your annual deductible (from insurance card or member portal)
• Your coinsurance percentage (typically 20–30%)
• Your out-of-pocket maximum
• Your year-to-date spending (if any)

Go to Forecast Tool →

You'll see a range of outcomes and can compare costs across months ahead if you have flexibility on timing.

Save & Track: Email yourself the estimate to keep a record. Update it if your deductible status changes.

Check if Your CT Scan Bill Is Overpriced

Got a bill? Compare it to Medicare rates and regional commercial benchmarks in seconds.

Our bill analyzer automatically checks for:

• Excessive charges — Is the allowed amount way higher than comparable states?
• Wrong CPT codes — Did they bill for a more expensive scan variant?
• Duplicate charges — Did facility and professional components both get billed?
• Emergency surcharges — Applied incorrectly to routine scans?

Upload Your Bill →

You'll get a detailed report showing:

• What Medicare pays for the same procedure
• What commercial insurance typically negotiates
• How your bill compares to your region
• Potential savings or billing errors

Related Procedure Costs

CT scans are just one imaging option. Compare costs with other common diagnostic procedures:

• MRI Cost by State — Soft tissue imaging, often higher cost
• X-Ray Cost by State — Most affordable imaging option
• Ultrasound Cost by State — No radiation, competitive pricing

Each has different CPT codes, allowed amounts, and negotiated rates. Use our site to compare across procedures if your physician gives you options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my state's CT scan cost so much more than neighboring states?

Regional labor costs are the primary driver. Medicare adjusts payments using Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI) that reflect local wages. Commercial insurers follow similar patterns. Northeast states typically cost 35–40% more due to higher labor costs. Additionally, market concentration—fewer imaging facilities = less negotiating competition—pushes costs up.

Is a CT scan cheaper at an imaging center than a hospital?

Usually yes—20–40% cheaper. Independent imaging centers have lower overhead and more price competition. If your physician allows imaging center-level care, request it. The imaging quality is typically identical; you just save money.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket?

It depends on your insurance plan stage:

• If you haven't met your deductible: You pay the full allowed amount (typically $300–$800)
• If you've met your deductible: You pay your coinsurance % (typically 20–30% = $60–$240)
• If you've hit your OOP max: You pay $0

Use our forecast tool with your specific plan details for an accurate estimate.

What if my hospital doesn't have negotiated rates with my insurance?

Call your insurance's customer service and ask for the "allowed amount" or "contracted rate" for CPT code 70450 (head CT without contrast) at your specific facility. If no contract exists, out-of-network rates apply—usually much higher. Getting a price guarantee in writing before your scan is important.

Can I negotiate the cost before my scan?

Yes. Call the hospital's billing department and ask:

1. The allowed amount (what insurance will pay)
2. Your coinsurance % after deductible
3. If uninsured, ask for a cash discount (20–40% off is common)

Get any discount promise in writing. Schedule after getting a price quote.

Are these costs the same everywhere?

No—there are significant regional and facility-level variations. Medicare rates are state-specific; commercial rates are negotiated region-by-region. Even within a state, different hospitals may have very different negotiated rates. Always get a price quote from your specific facility.

What's NOT included in these estimates?

These prices are for CPT 70450 (head CT without contrast) only. Additional charges that may apply:

• Contrast dye (CPT 70460 or 70470) = add $200–$400
• Emergency facility fees = add 30–50% surcharge
• Radiologist's report = sometimes separate charge
• Image storage or transfer = sometimes billed separately

Ask your facility upfront if any of these will apply to your scan.

About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA is a healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics. He founded CostKits to help families understand and control their healthcare expenses.

John holds the Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) designations. His work has focused on analyzing billions of medical claims to identify pricing patterns, billing errors, and cost-reduction opportunities across commercial and Medicare populations. He's passionate about transparency in healthcare pricing and making cost information accessible to every patient.

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