MRI Knee Cost in Illinois (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a mri knee cost in Illinois?
An mri knee in Illinois is priced differently for each type of coverage. With commercial insurance it typically runs $331–$3,039, facility and physician fees combined. Medicare pays one national rate to every provider, and you generally owe about 20% of it (around $71) after the Part B deductible. Without insurance, posted hospital cash prices run $254–$3,835. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.
Three low-priced facilities in Illinois, from hospital price files
- Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin · Elgin, IL $254
- Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital · Chicago, IL $254
- Ressurection Medical Center · Chicago, IL $254
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 120 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where mri knee costs vary in Illinois
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.
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
Free for patients - takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll send a sign-in link to your email - click it to get your guide. No account required, no spam.
Cheapest MRI Knee Providers in Illinois
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, IL | $650 | -$000 |
| 2 | Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin | Elgin, IL | $254 | -$1,096 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, IL | $648 | -$000 |
| 4 | Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital | Chicago, IL | $254 | -$1,096 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, IL | $646 | -$000 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, IL | $645 | -$000 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, IL | $644 | -$000 |
| 8 | Ressurection Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $254 | -$1,096 |
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 120 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?
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost → · When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →
Quick take
- Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet is the lowest-cost option at $254 - $1,096 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 $1,350, 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) | 90 | $326 to $3,272 | $1,240 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 121 | $254 to $3,835 | $1,350 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | 81 | $286 to $3,037 | $1,192 |
| Aetna | 71 | $267 to $2,994 | $1,097 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 61 | $286 to $5,479 | $1,276 |
| Cigna | 60 | $398 to $4,499 | $1,131 |
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 an MRI Knee cost with Medicare in Illinois?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for MRI Knee 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 an MRI Knee cost with insurance in Illinois?
Across 90 Illinois hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for MRI Knee average $326 to $3,272 per hospital, with a median near $1,240. 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 an MRI Knee cost without insurance in Illinois?
Cash (self-pay) prices for MRI Knee at 121 Illinois hospitals range from $254 to $3,835, with a median of $1,350. 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 an MRI Knee cost with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois negotiated rates for MRI Knee at 81 Illinois hospitals range from $286 to $3,037, with a median near $1,192. 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 an MRI Knee cost with Aetna in Illinois?
Aetna negotiated rates for MRI Knee at 71 Illinois hospitals range from $267 to $2,994, with a median near $1,097. 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 an MRI Knee cost with UnitedHealthcare in Illinois?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for MRI Knee at 61 Illinois hospitals range from $286 to $5,479, with a median near $1,276. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does an MRI Knee cost with Cigna in Illinois?
Cigna negotiated rates for MRI Knee at 60 Illinois hospitals range from $398 to $4,499, with a median near $1,131. 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 where you go changes what you pay for mri knee
The same mri knee 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.
- Facility fee $208–$7,823
- Professional fee $311–$1,564
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $229–$4,721
- Professional fee $311–$1,564
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- technical_component $292–$608
- professional_interpretation $112–$300
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. 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
A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $7,188, including Hoopeston Community Memorial Hospital at $7,823, 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 $1,425 versus $2,829 inpatient (about 2× 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 | ~$1,463 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$293 |
| Out-of-network provider | $3,219+ |
Frequently asked questions: MRI Knee costs in Illinois
How much does an MRI Knee cost in Illinois?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $255, with most facilities between $209 and $365 (based on 117 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $112 to $12,809 across all 120 Illinois 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 an MRI Knee in Illinois?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Illinois data is Touchette Regional Hospital at about $208. By metro, Rockford has the lowest median ($272). 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 an MRI Knee so much cheaper at some Illinois hospitals?
Prices vary up to 114.4× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Illinois, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,350 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,240 - about 1.1× higher. 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 an MRI Knee 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
- How to read your medical bill
- How to stop medical bill problems before they start
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in Illinois
MRI Knee, 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 mri knee - 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 mri knee changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard mri knee with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
MRI Knee 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 mri knee before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
Other Procedure Costs in Illinois
- Appendectomy Cost in Illinois
- Cataract Surgery Cost in Illinois
- Childbirth Cost in Illinois
- Cholecystectomy Cost in Illinois
- Colonoscopy Cost in Illinois
- CT Abdomen Cost in Illinois
- CT Chest Cost in Illinois
- CT Head Cost in Illinois
- CT Scan Cost in Illinois
- Echocardiogram Cost in Illinois
- Emergency Room Visit Cost in Illinois
- Endoscopy Cost in Illinois
- Hip Replacement Cost in Illinois
- Hysterectomy Cost in Illinois
- Knee Replacement Cost in Illinois
- Mammogram Cost in Illinois
- MRI Brain Cost in Illinois
- MRI Cost in Illinois
- Spinal Fusion Cost in Illinois
- Ultrasound Cost in Illinois
- Xray Cost in Illinois
Related Articles
Interested in understanding healthcare costs and managing your medical expenses?
- Free Cost EstimatorCalculate your exact out-of-pocket cost for any procedure
- Free Bill ScreenerCheck whether your bill and paperwork are ready for a professional review
- Family Bill TrackerTrack costs across every family member and every bill in one place
- MRI Knee Cost GuideCompare MRI Knee prices across all 50 states
- Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket MaximumLearn how insurance cost-sharing works and what you actually pay
- Cost ExplorerBrowse procedures and compare prices across the country
- MRI Cost GuideCompare MRI pricing and understand imaging costs
- X-Ray Cost GuideCompare X-ray pricing across states
About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
Connect on LinkedIn →Ready to take control of your healthcare costs?
Use the free cost estimator → · Get your bill screened for free → · See the family plan →