Knee MRI Cost in Denver, CO (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a knee mri cost in Denver, CO?
The same knee mri in Denver, CO might cost you $246 at one facility and $377 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 24 reporting hospitals is $377. 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 Denver, CO, from hospital price files
- AdventHealth Porter · Denver, CO $246
- AdventHealth Parker · Parker, CO $246
- HCA HEALTHONE SWEDISH · Englewood, CO $377
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 24 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 Denver, CO
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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Cheapest Knee MRI Providers in Denver, CO
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CO | $814 | -$000 |
| 2 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CO | $813 | -$000 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CO | $812 | -$000 |
| 4 | AdventHealth Porter | Denver, CO | $246 | -$131 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CO | $810 | -$000 |
| 6 | AdventHealth Parker | Parker, CO | $246 | -$131 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CO | $808 | -$000 |
| 8 | HCA HEALTHONE SWEDISH | Englewood, CO | $377 | +$0 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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Sends a PDF with all 24 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
- SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL, INC. DBA INTERMOUNTAIN NHEALTH SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL is the lowest-cost option at $240 - $137 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 $377, 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) | 21 | $411 to $2,844 | $1,442 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 25 | $230 to $1,412 | $377 |
| Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 17 | $193 to $1,439 | $573 |
| Aetna | 14 | $811 to $1,853 | $1,583 |
| Cigna | 13 | $1,329 to $8,772 | $6,287 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 6 | $518 to $1,618 | $518 |
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 Denver, CO?
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 Denver, CO?
Across 21 Denver, CO hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for knee mri average $411 to $2,844 per hospital, with a median near $1,442. 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 Denver, CO?
Cash (self-pay) prices for knee mri at 25 Denver, CO hospitals range from $230 to $1,412, with a median of $377. 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 a knee mri cost with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Denver, CO?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for knee mri at 17 Denver, CO hospitals range from $193 to $1,439, with a median near $573. 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 a knee mri cost with Aetna in Denver, CO?
Aetna negotiated rates for knee mri at 14 Denver, CO hospitals range from $811 to $1,853, with a median near $1,583. 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 a knee mri cost with Cigna in Denver, CO?
Cigna negotiated rates for knee mri at 13 Denver, CO hospitals range from $1,329 to $8,772, with a median near $6,287. 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 a knee mri cost with UnitedHealthcare in Denver, CO?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for knee mri at 6 Denver, CO hospitals range from $518 to $1,618, with a median near $518. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
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. 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.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (6) report prices above $574, including UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital at $1,918, 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 $377 versus $1,554 inpatient (about 4.1× 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.
On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$377 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$75 |
| Out-of-network provider | $829+ |
Frequently asked questions: knee mri costs in Denver, CO
How much does a knee mri cost in Denver, CO?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $251, with most facilities between $242 and $377 (based on 25 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $205 to $1,918 across all 24 Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Denver, CO data is Craig Hospital in Englewood at about $205. By metro, Englewood has the lowest median ($291). 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 Denver, CO hospitals?
Prices vary up to 9.4× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Denver, CO, the median cash (self-pay) price is $377 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,442 - 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 Denver, CO?
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
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Denver, CO
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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