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

What does a mri knee cost in Tennessee?

A typical mri knee in Tennessee costs $382–$965 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 51 hospitals is $480. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where mri knee costs vary in Tennessee

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.

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HCA Healthcare, headquartered in Nashville, has significant hospital presence in its home state, creating pricing patterns more aligned with for-profit hospital economics than nonprofit systems in comparable markets. Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors the Nashville academic tier. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, maintaining a high uninsured rate that influences facility pricing structures. 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 $1,729, including Trousdale Medical Center at $2,648, 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 $480 versus $604 inpatient (about 1.3× 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 Tennessee

How much does an MRI Knee cost in Tennessee?

Across 51 Tennessee hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Knee ranges from $100 to $14,814, with a median of $480. Most facilities fall between $254 and $807. 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 Tennessee?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Tennessee data is Williamson County Hospital District in Franklin at about $201. By metro, Crossville has the lowest median ($359). 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 Tennessee hospitals?

Prices vary up to 148.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Tennessee, the median cash (self-pay) price is $480 versus a median negotiated rate of $200 - about 2.4× 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 Tennessee?

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.

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