Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated July 17, 2026

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

Creator: John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Published: 2026-07-17T19:26:00.905Z
Keywords: mri cost illinois, mri price illinois, Illinois healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, medical cost comparison

What does a mri cost in Illinois?

Expect roughly $395 to $1,972 for an mri in Illinois if you're commercially insured - that range already folds in both the facility charge and the physician fee. The median reported facility price across 118 hospitals is $667. It's built from CMS fee schedules and federally mandated hospital price transparency data.

Where mri costs vary in Illinois

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Imaging Center Click a pin for details.

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.

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Cheapest MRI Providers in Illinois

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

#	Facility	City	Price	vs Median
1	Ferrell Hospital Community Foundation	Eldorado, IL	$110	-$557
2	John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital	Chicago, IL	$114	-$553
3	Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Hospital	Naperville, IL	$127	-$540
4	Endeavor Health Edward Hospital	Naperville, IL	$127	-$540
5	Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital	Elmhurst, IL	$127	-$540
6	Kirby Medical Center	Monticello, IL	$142	-$525
7	Ingalls Memorial Hospital	Harvey, IL	$152	-$515
8	Jersey Community Hospital	Jerseyville, IL	$169	-$498

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick take

Ferrell Hospital Community Foundation is the lowest-cost option at $110 - $557 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 $667, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
This dataset covers hospitals only - freestanding ASCs, which routinely run 30-60% cheaper for the same procedure, aren't included, so it's worth asking your doctor whether one is an option.

How where you go changes what you pay for mri

The same mri 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.

Hospital Outpatient

$342–$9,311

Facility fee $51–$7,743
Professional fee $291–$1,568

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient

$342–$9,311

Facility fee $51–$7,743
Professional fee $291–$1,568

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Independent Imaging Center

$244–$1,153

technical_component $150–$725
professional_interpretation $94–$428

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. MRI pricing has some of the widest site-of-service spreads in all of imaging - hospital outpatient MRIs often cost 4–8× more than the same scan at a freestanding imaging center. With vs. without contrast and body part scanned are separate CPT codes with meaningfully different prices; confirm exactly what was ordered before scheduling. For non-urgent imaging, independent imaging centers offer the same diagnostic quality at a fraction of hospital prices.

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 $5,100, including OSF Healthcare System at $4,532, 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 $574 versus $816 inpatient (about 1.4× 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	~$789
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance	~$158
Out-of-network provider	$1,736+

Frequently asked questions: MRI costs in Illinois

How much does an MRI cost in Illinois?

Across 118 Illinois hospitals that publish prices, an MRI ranges from $100 to $19,980, with a median of $667. Most facilities fall between $255 and $1,802. 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 in Illinois?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Illinois data is Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park at about $51. By metro, Melrose Park has the lowest median ($51). 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 so much cheaper at some Illinois hospitals?

Prices vary up to 199.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Illinois, the median cash (self-pay) price is $667 versus a median negotiated rate of $241 - 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 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

Other procedures in Illinois

MRI, elsewhere

Other Illinois Hospitals for MRI

These hospitals are registered in the CMS National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry as active hospitals in Illinois. Cost estimates use the bundled service model for each place of service. Contact them directly for a formal quote.

Provider

City

Type

Est. Cost

1ST ASSIST INC
6308186681

NAPERVILLE, IL

General Acute Care Hospital

$342–$9,311 bundled est.

A. KORANTENG MEDICAL LTD
6307940276

WILLOWBROOK, IL

Critical Access Hospital

$342–$9,311 bundled est.

ABBY E MCMAHON FNP PC
8472939070

WAUCONDA, IL

General Acute Care Hospital

$342–$9,311 bundled est.