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

What does a mri brain cost in Montana?

For a commercially insured patient, an mri brain in Montana typically runs $394–$1,863 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 31 hospitals is $942. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where mri brain costs vary in Montana

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.

CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) and RiverStone Health cover most of Montana's population. The state's vast geography means most residents have little or no practical alternative to their nearest facility, effectively eliminating competitive pricing pressure outside Billings and Missoula. Critical access hospitals are widespread and use cost-based reimbursement for Medicare. 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 $908 versus $942 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.

Frequently asked questions: MRI Brain costs in Montana

How much does an MRI Brain cost in Montana?

Across 31 Montana hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Brain ranges from $112 to $5,042, with a median of $942. Most facilities fall between $246 and $1,693. 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 Montana?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Montana data is Logan Health - Conrad in Conrad at about $107. By metro, Kalispell has the lowest median ($175). 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 Montana hospitals?

Prices vary up to 45× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Montana, the median cash (self-pay) price is $942 versus a median negotiated rate of $310 - about 3× 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 Montana?

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).