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

Head CT Cost (2026): $294–$1,271

Typical cost

$294–$1,271

Sticker price is almost never what patients actually pay.

Your actual cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, and where you are in your plan.

👉 The same Head CT could cost you $0 or $1,271.

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Where You Get a Head CT Matters

Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2–4× more than independent imaging centers for the same procedure - same outcome, very different bill.

Hospital Outpatient Department

Hospital Outpatient Department typically carries a higher price for a head ct. Facility fee billed separately from professional fee. Provider-based billing adds facility overhead. You can shop here - call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote.

Independent Imaging Center

Independent Imaging Center typically carries the lowest typical price for a head ct. Freestanding radiology centers. Technical component billed by center; professional (radiologist read) billed separately. You can shop here - call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote.

Emergency Room Head CT

A Head CT performed in the emergency department can run 2–5× the cost of the identical scan at an outpatient or independent facility, because a hospital facility fee stacks on top. Use the ER only when the situation is medically urgent - it is not a setting where you can shop on price.

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.

Your personalized cost report includes:

  • ✓ Why facility type drives most of the price variation - and how to use that
  • ✓ The separate radiologist bill most patients miss (and how to verify it's in-network)
  • ✓ When contrast adds a charge - and when it's negotiable
  • ✓ The questions to ask before scheduling that can save $500–$1,500
  • ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line

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Head CT Cost With vs Without Contrast

Which type your doctor orders changes the billing code - and what you pay. Here's how the common types differ.

CT Head Without Contrast

A standard head ct with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.

CT Head With Contrast

Uses contrast dye to highlight tissue. The dye and its administration are billed on top of the base scan.

CT Head With and Without Contrast

Two sets of images - before and after contrast - in one visit. It costs more than either alone because both sequences are performed and interpreted.

If you're wondering how much a head CT costs, the price varies significantly by insurance coverage, facility type, and region. Hospital prices for a head CT typically run $294–$1,271. Medicare's national payment is about $121 to $179. Hospital cash prices run $109 to $1,924. Commercial insurers negotiate $170 to $1,274.

CostKits Data - Head CT

$250–$1,170
National typical range
Median across all 50 states
26×
National price spread
Cheapest vs. most expensive market
7,618
Facilities in our database
90% have observed negotiated rates
50
States with cost data
Updated 2026

CostKits Market Intelligence - Head CT

Confidence: High
Sources Used
  • CMS Medicare fee schedules (MPFS, OPPS, ASC)
  • Hospital price transparency files
  • Commercial rate relativity model
Estimate Composition
Observed negotiated rates
90%
Medicare baseline
5%
Estimated relativity
5%
372 geographic markets analyzed
7,618 facilities in dataset
50 states + 322 metros

Most insured patients do not pay the full facility price. See your likely out-of-pocket cost →

Where people are getting Head CT done

A sample of real facilities across major U.S. metros - click a pin to save one, or enter your ZIP to find facilities near you.

Click a pin to save a facility - auto-cycling through major metros

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Facility locations from CMS hospital price-transparency filings. Get a personalized cost estimate →
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Compare Head CT to Other CT Scans

Head CT vs Chest CT

Factor Head CT Chest CT
Hospital price (national) $294–$1,271 $183–$502
Requires Contrast Rarely Usually
Most Common Use Trauma, stroke PE, nodules
Facility Overhead Standard Higher (contrast protocols)

See also: Learn more about CT chest scan pricing for comparison.

Head CT vs Abdomen CT

Factor Head CT Abdomen CT
Hospital price (national) $294–$1,271 $430–$1,535
Requires Contrast Rarely Variable
Most Common Use Neurological Abdominal pain
Emergency Use Trauma, stroke Appendicitis

See also: Learn more about CT abdomen scan pricing for comparison.

Head CT vs Brain MRI

Factor Head CT Brain MRI
Hospital cash price $109 to $1,924 $209 to $3,343
Speed 5–10 minutes 30–45 minutes
Best for Acute trauma, bleeding Soft tissue detail
Radiation Yes (low dose) No

See also: Learn more about MRI brain cost for detailed neurological imaging.

This Procedure Is Shoppable - Choosing the Right Facility Can Save Thousands

Head CT is elective and schedulable. You have time to compare facilities - and hospital outpatient prices often run 2–4× higher than Hospital OP, Imaging Center for identical clinical outcomes.

How to shop: Ask your doctor for the CPT code, then call 2–3 facilities and request an out-of-pocket cost estimate. Confirm your insurance is accepted. If uninsured, ask for the cash-pay rate - it's usually 20–50% below the list price.

Who performs this: Head CT is typically performed by a Radiology. The specialist's professional fee is billed separately from the facility charge - you will likely receive separate bills from each.

What's Actually on a Head CT Bill?

A single head ct can generate multiple separate bills. Each provider bills independently and they often arrive weeks apart. Here's what to expect at a Hospital Outpatient:

Billing Component Always? Typical Amount Separate Bill? Notes
Technical / Facility Fee Always $349–$1,105 Often
Radiologist Fee Always $47–$98 Usually

Data note

This page shows facility and allowed-amount price data - not your personal cost after insurance. What you'll actually pay depends on your deductible, coinsurance rate, and plan type.

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Common Head CT Billing Surprises

The sticker price is rarely the whole story. These are the charges that most often surprise people after a head ct - knowing them in advance is how you catch errors and avoid out-of-network bills.

You May Receive Two Separate Bills

A single head ct can generate 2 separate bills - imaging facility (technical), radiologist (professional). Each provider bills independently and may arrive on its own statement, so the first bill you see is rarely the full total.

Hospital or ER vs. Imaging Center Can Differ by Thousands

A hospital outpatient department - and especially an emergency department - can cost far more than an independent imaging center for the identical scan.

The Radiologist Bills Separately

The radiologist who reads your scan bills separately and may be out-of-network even when the facility is in-network.

Contrast Dye Adds a Separate Charge

Contrast dye, when used, can add a separate charge - and the radiologist's reading often arrives later as its own bill.

Explore Head CT Costs

How Insurance Affects the Cost of This Procedure

Understanding these insurance concepts can help you estimate what you may actually pay for this procedure.

Head CT by Type & Body Part

Costs vary significantly by which head ct variant you need. Select a type to see state-by-state pricing and billing details:

Cheapest States for Head CT

The 10 lowest-cost states for head ct, by typical facility price range. Use these as a benchmark - even within a low-cost state, an independent imaging center usually beats a hospital outpatient department.

  1. 1. Maryland $113–$142
  2. 2. Rhode Island $117–$389
  3. 3. Utah $112–$538
  4. 4. Tennessee $123–$712
  5. 5. Maine $102–$789
  6. 6. New York $130–$839
  7. 7. Mississippi $222–$813
  8. 8. Connecticut $266–$827
  9. 9. Oregon $116–$1,003
  10. 10. New Jersey $143–$1,027

Most Expensive States for Head CT

The 10 highest-cost states for head ct. If you're in one of these, shopping facilities and asking for the cash-pay rate matters most.

  1. 1. South Dakota $1,943–$2,678
  2. 2. Nebraska $1,565–$2,262
  3. 3. Nevada $758–$2,474
  4. 4. Alaska $712–$2,483
  5. 5. Iowa $1,008–$1,629
  6. 6. North Carolina $874–$1,314
  7. 7. Arizona $261–$1,912
  8. 8. Virginia $627–$1,408
  9. 9. Texas $325–$1,681
  10. 10. Pennsylvania $166–$1,809

Head CT Cost by State

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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 March 10, 2026 · Updated October 26, 2026

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