Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated July 17, 2026

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

Creator: John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Published: 2026-07-17T19:26:00.905Z
Keywords: mri-brain cost illinois, mri-brain price illinois, Illinois healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, medical cost comparison

What does a mri brain cost in Illinois?

A typical mri brain in Illinois costs $1,044–$3,050 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 103 hospitals is $1,778. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where mri brain costs vary in Illinois

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Imaging Center Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Hospital MRI costs run 2–5× more than independent imaging centers. Most patients never knew they had a choice.

Your personalized cost report includes:

✓ Why the exact same scan costs $400 at one site and $2,200 at another
✓ The separate radiologist bill most patients miss (and how to verify it's in-network)
✓ When contrast adds a charge - and when to ask if you need it
✓ The questions to ask before scheduling that protect you from surprise bills
✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line

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Cheapest MRI Brain Providers in Illinois

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

#	Facility	City	Price	vs Median
1	Good Samaritan Regional Health Center	Mount Vernon, IL	$255	-$1,523
2	Ssm Health St. Mary's Hospital -Centralia	Centralia, IL	$255	-$1,523
3	Mercyhealth Crystal Lake Hospital & Medical Center	Crystal Lake, IL	$255	-$1,523
4	Rockford Memorial Hospital	Rockford, IL	$255	-$1,523
5	Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital	IL	$329	-$1,449
6	Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital	Elmhurst, IL	$343	-$1,435
7	Endeavor Health Edward Hospital	Naperville, IL	$343	-$1,435
8	Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Hospital	Naperville, IL	$343	-$1,435

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick take

Good Samaritan Regional Health Center is the lowest-cost option at $255 - $1,523 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 $1,778, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
This dataset covers hospitals only - freestanding ASCs, which routinely run 30-60% cheaper for the same procedure, aren't included, so it's worth asking your doctor whether one is an option.

How where you go changes what you pay for mri brain

The same mri brain bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient

$409–$6,984

Facility fee $109–$5,684
Professional fee $300–$1,300

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient

$409–$6,984

Facility fee $109–$5,684
Professional fee $300–$1,300

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Independent Imaging Center

$355–$811

technical_component $232–$483
professional_interpretation $123–$328

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Illinois presents two distinct markets: Chicago (highly competitive, high commercial rates, major academic medical centers) and downstate (lower density, smaller regional systems, lower rates). Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and Rush University Medical Center compete aggressively in the Chicago market. Downstate Illinois prices typically run 20–35% below Chicago-area rates for identical services. 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.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →

Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $1,908 versus $1,947 inpatient, 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	~$1,900
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance	~$380
Out-of-network provider	$4,180+

Frequently asked questions: MRI Brain costs in Illinois

How much does an MRI Brain cost in Illinois?

Across 103 Illinois hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Brain ranges from $109 to $14,800, with a median of $1,778. Most facilities fall between $587 and $2,880. 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 Illinois?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Illinois data is John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital in Chicago at about $126. By metro, Chicago has the lowest median ($949). 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 Illinois hospitals?

Prices vary up to 135.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Illinois, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,778 versus a median negotiated rate of $365 - about 4.9× 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 Illinois?

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

Other procedures in Illinois

MRI Brain, elsewhere

Other Illinois Hospitals for MRI Brain

These hospitals are registered in the CMS National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry as active hospitals in Illinois. Cost estimates use the bundled service model for each place of service. Contact them directly for a formal quote.

Provider

City

Type

Est. Cost

1ST ASSIST INC
6308186681

NAPERVILLE, IL

General Acute Care Hospital

$409–$6,984 bundled est.

A. KORANTENG MEDICAL LTD
6307940276

WILLOWBROOK, IL

Critical Access Hospital

$409–$6,984 bundled est.

ABBY E MCMAHON FNP PC
8472939070

WAUCONDA, IL

General Acute Care Hospital

$409–$6,984 bundled est.