MRI Knee Cost in South Carolina (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a mri knee cost in South Carolina?

Expect roughly $306 to $1,895 for an mri knee in South Carolina if you're commercially insured - that range already folds in both the facility charge and the physician fee. The median reported facility price across 15 hospitals is $230. It's built from CMS fee schedules and federally mandated hospital price transparency data.

Where mri knee costs vary in South Carolina

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.

Prisma Health (formed from Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System) and Roper St. Francis are the two largest health systems, anchoring the Midlands and Lowcountry respectively. South Carolina's delayed Medicaid expansion maintained a higher uninsured population for years, influencing charity care structures and cash price policies at many facilities. 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

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $230 versus $2,059 inpatient (about 9× 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.

Frequently asked questions: MRI Knee costs in South Carolina

How much does an MRI Knee cost in South Carolina?

Across 15 South Carolina hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Knee ranges from $144 to $8,019, with a median of $230. Most facilities fall between $229 and $1,737. 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 South Carolina?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our South Carolina data is Beaufort Memorial Hospital in Beaufort at about $144. By metro, Spartanburg has the lowest median ($204). 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 Knee so much cheaper at some South Carolina hospitals?

Prices vary up to 55.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In South Carolina, the median cash (self-pay) price is $619 versus a median negotiated rate of $221 - about 2.8× 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 Knee in South Carolina?

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).