CT Scan (Abdomen) Cost in Hickory, NC (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ct scan (abdomen) cost in Hickory, NC?
Where you have a ct scan (abdomen) done in Hickory, NC swings the bill from $1,767 to $2,082 for identical care. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $1,935. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Hickory, NC, from hospital price files
- Blue Ridge HealthCare Hospitals, Inc · Morganton, NC $1,800
- FRYE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER $2,070
- Catawba Valley Medical Center · Hickory, NC $2,186
All 4 facilities are listed below, free.
Where ct scan (abdomen) costs vary in Hickory, NC
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.
26+ people checked prices near them this month.
The same CT scan costs 3–6× more at a hospital than at an imaging center. Location is the biggest variable - and you can choose.
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Cheapest CT Scan (Abdomen) Providers in Hickory, NC
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge HealthCare Hospitals, Inc | Morganton, NC | $1,800 | -$135 |
| 2 | FRYE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | NC | $2,070 | +$135 |
| 3 | Catawba Valley Medical Center | Hickory, NC | $2,186 | +$251 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- 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
- Blue Ridge HealthCare Hospitals, Inc is the lowest-cost option at $1,800 - $135 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,935, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Independent imaging centers often charge much less than hospital outpatient departments for the same scan and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $143 to $356 | $211 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 4 | $604 to $1,452 | $1,187 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 4 | $1,568 to $2,151 | $1,935 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina | 4 | $510 to $1,446 | $906 |
| Aetna | 4 | $159 to $2,000 | $834 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4 | $167 to $205 | $172 |
| Cigna | 4 | $1,156 to $2,234 | $2,020 |
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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with Medicare in Hickory, NC?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for CT Scan (Abdomen) is about $143 to $356 (typically near $211). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $42 on a $211 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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with insurance in Hickory, NC?
Across 4 Hickory, NC hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for CT Scan (Abdomen) average $604 to $1,452 per hospital, with a median near $1,187. 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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost without insurance in Hickory, NC?
Cash (self-pay) prices for CT Scan (Abdomen) at 4 Hickory, NC hospitals range from $1,568 to $2,151, with a median of $1,935. 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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in Hickory, NC?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina negotiated rates for CT Scan (Abdomen) at 4 Hickory, NC hospitals range from $510 to $1,446, with a median near $906. 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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with Aetna in Hickory, NC?
Aetna negotiated rates for CT Scan (Abdomen) at 4 Hickory, NC hospitals range from $159 to $2,000, with a median near $834. 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 an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with UnitedHealthcare in Hickory, NC?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for CT Scan (Abdomen) at 4 Hickory, NC hospitals range from $167 to $205, with a median near $172. 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 much does an CT Scan (Abdomen) cost with Cigna in Hickory, NC?
Cigna negotiated rates for CT Scan (Abdomen) at 4 Hickory, NC hospitals range from $1,156 to $2,234, with a median near $2,020. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare) and Wake Forest Baptist Health have merged into one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast. Duke Health and UNC Health anchor the Research Triangle academic tier, creating a market where major academic centers hold outsized pricing leverage. North Carolina has been an active target for FTC scrutiny of hospital consolidation. Abdominal CT pricing follows the same site-of-service pattern as other imaging: the identical scan costs 3–6× more at a hospital outpatient department than at an independent imaging center. With contrast vs. without contrast are different CPT codes and different prices, so confirm which your doctor ordered before scheduling. If ordered non-urgently, calling ahead to compare cash prices across independent imaging centers near you is the single most effective cost reduction strategy.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
Facility classification matters as much as the hospital itself - a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.
What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$1,935 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$387 |
| Out-of-network provider | $4,257+ |
Frequently asked questions: CT Scan (Abdomen) costs in Hickory, NC
How much does a CT Scan (Abdomen) cost in Hickory, NC?
The typical price is $1,935, with most facilities between $1,767 and $2,082. Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $1,468 to $2,186 across all 4 Hickory, NC hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a CT Scan (Abdomen) in Hickory, NC?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Hickory, NC data is Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir at about $1,468. 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 CT Scan (Abdomen) so much cheaper at some Hickory, NC hospitals?
Prices vary up to 1.5× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Hickory, NC, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,935 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,187 - about 1.6× higher. 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 CT Scan (Abdomen) in Hickory, NC?
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
- How to read your medical bill
- How to stop medical bill problems before they start
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in Hickory, NC
CT Scan (Abdomen), elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
Imaging center vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than independent imaging centers for the same ct scan (abdomen) - same outcome, very different bill. The ER charges the most of any setting and should only be used when the situation is medically urgent. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
With vs. without contrast
Which type your doctor orders for this ct scan (abdomen) changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard ct scan (abdomen) with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
CT Scan (Abdomen) is elective and schedulable, so you have time to compare facilities before booking - hospital outpatient prices often run 2-4x higher than alternative settings for the identical clinical outcome.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for ct scan (abdomen) before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
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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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