CT Scan (Head) Cost in Nashville, TN (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ct scan (head) cost in Nashville, TN?
The same ct scan (head) in Nashville, TN might cost you $117 at one facility and $299 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 27 reporting hospitals is $194. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Nashville, TN, from hospital price files
- Saint Thomas West Hospital $100
- Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals $101
- Williamson County Hospital District · Franklin, TN $105
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Where ct scan (head) costs vary in Nashville, TN
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.
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Cheapest CT Scan (Head) Providers in Nashville, TN
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Thomas West Hospital | TN | $100 | -$94 |
| 2 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, TN | $463 | -$000 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, TN | $464 | -$000 |
| 4 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, TN | $465 | -$000 |
| 5 | Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals | TN | $101 | -$93 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, TN | $467 | -$000 |
| 7 | Williamson County Hospital District | Franklin, TN | $105 | -$89 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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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?
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Quick take
- Saint Thomas West Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $100 - $94 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 $194, 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) | — | $121 to $179 | $179 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 21 | $136 to $1,923 | $270 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 28 | $100 to $4,564 | $194 |
| BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee | 18 | $98 to $240 | $146 |
| Cigna | 17 | $136 to $2,762 | $234 |
| Aetna | 15 | $241 to $558 | $459 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 6 | $179 to $3,013 | $179 |
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 (Head) cost with Medicare in Nashville, TN?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for CT Scan (Head) is about $121 to $179 (typically near $179). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $36 on a $179 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 (Head) cost with insurance in Nashville, TN?
Across 21 Nashville, TN hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for CT Scan (Head) average $136 to $1,923 per hospital, with a median near $270. 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 (Head) cost without insurance in Nashville, TN?
Cash (self-pay) prices for CT Scan (Head) at 28 Nashville, TN hospitals range from $100 to $4,564, with a median of $194. 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 (Head) cost with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in Nashville, TN?
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee negotiated rates for CT Scan (Head) at 18 Nashville, TN hospitals range from $98 to $240, with a median near $146. 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 (Head) cost with Cigna in Nashville, TN?
Cigna negotiated rates for CT Scan (Head) at 17 Nashville, TN hospitals range from $136 to $2,762, with a median near $234. 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 an CT Scan (Head) cost with Aetna in Nashville, TN?
Aetna negotiated rates for CT Scan (Head) at 15 Nashville, TN hospitals range from $241 to $558, with a median near $459. 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 (Head) cost with UnitedHealthcare in Nashville, TN?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for CT Scan (Head) at 6 Nashville, TN hospitals range from $179 to $3,013, with a median near $179. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
HCA Healthcare, headquartered in Nashville, has significant hospital presence in its home state, creating pricing patterns more aligned with for-profit hospital economics than nonprofit systems in comparable markets. Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors the Nashville academic tier. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, maintaining a high uninsured rate that influences facility pricing structures. Head CT pricing follows the site-of-service pattern of other imaging, but emergency use dominates - most head CTs are ordered in emergency rooms, where facility fees can add $1,000–$3,000 on top of the imaging charge. Planned outpatient head CTs for follow-up or surveillance at independent imaging centers cost a fraction of the ER equivalent. If your order is non-urgent, ask your doctor for an outpatient referral to a freestanding imaging center.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (5) report prices above $1,579, including TRISTAR ASHLAND CITY MEDICAL CENTER at $8,633, 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 $179 versus $1,086 inpatient (about 6.1× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. 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 | ~$194 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$39 |
| Out-of-network provider | $427+ |
Frequently asked questions: CT Scan (Head) costs in Nashville, TN
How much does a CT Scan (Head) cost in Nashville, TN?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $179, with most facilities between $86 and $207 (based on 25 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $100 to $8,633 across all 27 Nashville, TN 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 (Head) in Nashville, TN?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Nashville, TN data is Saint Thomas West Hospital at about $100. By metro, Nashville has the lowest median ($184). 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 (Head) so much cheaper at some Nashville, TN hospitals?
Prices vary up to 86.3× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Nashville, TN, the median cash (self-pay) price is $194 versus a median negotiated rate of $270 - 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 CT Scan (Head) in Nashville, TN?
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
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- EOB vs medical bill: complete guide
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in Nashville, TN
CT Scan (Head), 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 (head) - 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 (head) changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard ct scan (head) with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
CT Scan (Head) 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 (head) 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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