Knee MRI Cost in San Jose, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a knee mri cost in San Jose, CA?
The same knee mri in San Jose, CA might cost you $637 at one facility and $1,502 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 9 reporting hospitals is $637. 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 San Jose, CA, from hospital price files
- O'Connor Hospital · San Jose, CA $637
- LUCILE SALTER PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD · Palo Alto, CA $2,049
- KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN JOSE · San Jose, CA $3,438
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 9 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where knee mri costs vary in San Jose, CA
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.
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Hospital MRI costs run 2–5× more than independent imaging centers. Most patients never knew they had a choice.
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Cheapest Knee MRI Providers in San Jose, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $348 | -$000 |
| 2 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $349 | -$000 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $350 | -$000 |
| 4 | O'Connor Hospital | San Jose, CA | $637 | +$0 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $352 | -$000 |
| 6 | LUCILE SALTER PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD | Palo Alto, CA | $2,049 | +$1,412 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $354 | -$000 |
| 8 | KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN JOSE | San Jose, CA | $3,438 | +$2,801 |
Your ranked price list is on its way to your email. Open the PDF now.
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Email me this price comparison plus what to ask before booking
Sends a PDF with all 9 facilities ranked cheapest first, plus a short checklist of questions that change what you pay. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
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
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $637, 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) | — | $266 to $712 | $356 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 3 | $1,194 to $2,969 | $1,194 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 8 | $551 to $3,438 | $637 |
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 a knee mri cost with Medicare in San Jose, CA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for knee mri is about $266 to $712 (typically near $356). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $71 on a $356 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 a knee mri cost with insurance in San Jose, CA?
Across 3 San Jose, CA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for knee mri average $1,194 to $2,969 per hospital, with a median near $1,194. 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 a knee mri cost without insurance in San Jose, CA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for knee mri at 8 San Jose, CA hospitals range from $551 to $3,438, with a median of $637. 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.
California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states. Knee MRI is one of the most commonly ordered orthopedic imaging studies and one of the clearest examples of site-of-service pricing: the identical scan costs $200–$500 at an independent imaging center and $1,500–$3,500 at a hospital outpatient department. Most knee MRIs are ordered non-urgently after an orthopedic consultation, giving patients time to compare prices across freestanding centers before scheduling. Contrast is rarely needed for routine knee MRI.
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 $637 versus $3,438 inpatient (about 5.4× 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.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$637 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$127 |
| Out-of-network provider | $1,401+ |
Frequently asked questions: knee mri costs in San Jose, CA
How much does a knee mri cost in San Jose, CA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $188, with most facilities between $53 and $323 (based on 8 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $350 to $3,438 across all 9 San Jose, CA 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 knee mri in San Jose, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Jose, CA data is Stanford Health Care in Stanford at about $350. By metro, San Jose has the lowest median ($637). 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 knee mri so much cheaper at some San Jose, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 9.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Jose, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $637 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,194 - 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 knee mri in San Jose, CA?
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
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read your medical bill
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- How to read a Medicare Summary Notice
Other procedures in San Jose, CA
Knee MRI, 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 knee mri - 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 knee mri changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard knee mri with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
Knee MRI 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 knee mri 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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