MRI Brain Cost in Colorado (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a mri brain cost in Colorado?

Expect roughly $485 to $2,025 for an mri brain in Colorado if you're commercially insured - that range already folds in both the facility charge and the physician fee. The median reported facility price across 58 hospitals is $1,081. It's built from CMS fee schedules and federally mandated hospital price transparency data.

Where mri brain costs vary in Colorado

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, 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.

UCHealth and CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) dominate the Front Range market, with Centura Health (now Intermountain) adding competition in the Denver corridor. Denver and Boulder wage indices are among the highest in the Mountain West, pushing Medicare-adjusted rates up relative to rural Colorado. The urban-rural price gap in Colorado is one of the widest in the country. Brain MRI pricing follows the same site-of-service pattern as other MRI, with hospital outpatient rates running 4–8× higher than freestanding imaging centers for an identical scan. With-contrast protocols (typically ordered for lesion characterization or post-treatment surveillance) carry a higher CPT code and higher price than non-contrast studies. If ordered as a non-urgent outpatient study, scheduling at a freestanding imaging center is the single most effective way to reduce cost.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $988 versus $1,598 inpatient (about 1.6× 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.

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.

Frequently asked questions: MRI Brain costs in Colorado

How much does an MRI Brain cost in Colorado?

Across 58 Colorado hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Brain ranges from $105 to $9,845, with a median of $1,081. Most facilities fall between $242 and $1,855. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an MRI Brain in Colorado?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Colorado data is East Morgan County Hospital in Brush at about $78. By metro, Estes Park has the lowest median ($194). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an MRI Brain so much cheaper at some Colorado hospitals?

Prices vary up to 93.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Colorado, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,081 versus a median negotiated rate of $242 - about 4.5× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 an MRI Brain in Colorado?

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.

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