Knee MRI Cost in Raleigh, NC (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a knee mri cost in Raleigh, NC?
The same knee mri in Raleigh, NC might cost you $219 at one facility and $320 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $256. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. Pick your coverage in the tabs below to see your number.
Insurance
With commercial insurance, knee mri in Raleigh, NC typically runs $219–$320, facility and physician fees combined. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible and coinsurance.
Medicare
Medicare pays the same national rate to every provider that accepts it, adjusted slightly for local wages, so choosing a different hospital doesn't change what Medicare pays. For knee mri that rate is about $266–$712 (typically near $356). After the $257 Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the approved amount, about $71.
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- ✓ 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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Medicaid
Medicaid is run by each state, and it pays fixed rates to the providers that accept it, so the price doesn't change from one hospital to the next. Most people on Medicaid owe nothing or a small copay for covered care, but what's covered and what you owe depends on your state and plan. CostKits doesn't show a Medicaid price here because those rates are set by the state, not negotiated by each hospital. The question that matters is whether the provider accepts your Medicaid plan, so ask before you schedule.
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.
No insurance
Posted cash prices for knee mri at 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals range from $219–$487, with a median of $256. The lowest posted price we found is WakeMed Cary Hospital in Cary, NC at $219. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for the hospital’s financial-assistance policy before you book.
Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.
Where knee mri costs vary in Raleigh, NC
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 Knee MRI Providers in Raleigh, NC
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WakeMed Cary Hospital | Cary, NC | $219 | -$37 |
| 2 | Wakemed Raleigh Campus | Raleigh, NC | $219 | -$37 |
| 3 | Rex Hospital, Inc. | Raleigh, NC | $292 | +$36 |
| 4 | Johnston Health Services Corporation | Smithfield, NC | $570 | +$314 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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
- WakeMed Cary Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $219 - $37 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 $256, 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) | 4 | $941 to $1,492 | $1,165 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 4 | $219 to $487 | $256 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina | 4 | $144 to $1,196 | $511 |
| Aetna | 4 | $861 to $1,545 | $981 |
| Cigna | 4 | $1,252 to $2,825 | $2,038 |
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 Raleigh, NC?
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 Raleigh, NC?
Across 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for knee mri average $941 to $1,492 per hospital, with a median near $1,165. 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 Raleigh, NC?
Cash (self-pay) prices for knee mri at 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals range from $219 to $487, with a median of $256. 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in Raleigh, NC?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina negotiated rates for knee mri at 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals range from $144 to $1,196, with a median near $511. 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 Raleigh, NC?
Aetna negotiated rates for knee mri at 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals range from $861 to $1,545, with a median near $981. 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 Raleigh, NC?
Cigna negotiated rates for knee mri at 4 Raleigh, NC hospitals range from $1,252 to $2,825, with a median near $2,038. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare) and Wake Forest Baptist Health have merged into one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast. Duke Health and UNC Health anchor the Research Triangle academic tier, creating a market where major academic centers hold outsized pricing leverage. North Carolina has been an active target for FTC scrutiny of hospital consolidation. 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
Facility classification matters as much as the hospital itself - a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. 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 | ~$256 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$51 |
| Out-of-network provider | $563+ |
Frequently asked questions: knee mri costs in Raleigh, NC
How much does a knee mri cost in Raleigh, NC?
The typical price is $256, with most facilities between $219 and $320. Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $219 to $570 across all 4 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Raleigh, NC data is WakeMed Cary Hospital in Cary at about $219. By metro, Raleigh has the lowest median ($256). 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 Raleigh, NC hospitals?
Prices vary up to 2.6× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Raleigh, NC, the median cash (self-pay) price is $256 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,165 - 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 Raleigh, NC?
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 Raleigh, NC
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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