MRI Cost in Lincoln, NE (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a mri cost in Lincoln, NE?
You could pay $1,285 or $1,318 for the same mri in Lincoln, NE - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $1,308. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Lincoln, NE, from hospital price files
- SAINT ELIZABETH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER · Lincoln, NE $1,303
- NEBRASKA HEART HOSPITAL · Lincoln, NE $1,312
- Bryan Medical Center $1,371
All 4 facilities are listed below, free.
Where mri costs vary in Lincoln, NE
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.
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Cheapest MRI Providers in Lincoln, NE
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAINT ELIZABETH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | Lincoln, NE | $1,303 | -$5 |
| 2 | NEBRASKA HEART HOSPITAL | Lincoln, NE | $1,312 | +$4 |
| 3 | Bryan Medical Center | NE | $1,371 | +$63 |
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
- SAINT ELIZABETH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER is the lowest-cost option at $1,303 - $5 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 $1,308, 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) | — | $244 to $356 | $356 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 3 | $519 to $854 | $525 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 4 | $1,178 to $1,353 | $1,308 |
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 cost with Medicare in Lincoln, NE?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for MRI is about $244 to $356 (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 cost with insurance in Lincoln, NE?
Across 3 Lincoln, NE hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for MRI average $519 to $854 per hospital, with a median near $525. 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 cost without insurance in Lincoln, NE?
Cash (self-pay) prices for MRI at 4 Lincoln, NE hospitals range from $1,178 to $1,353, with a median of $1,308. 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.
Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health (CommonSpirit) anchor the Omaha market, with Bryan Health and CHI Health competing in Lincoln. Nebraska prices generally run below national averages in urban markets but above average at rural critical access hospitals, reflecting the cost structure inversion common in frontier health markets. 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.
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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.
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.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$1,308 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$262 |
| Out-of-network provider | $2,878+ |
Frequently asked questions: MRI costs in Lincoln, NE
How much does an MRI cost in Lincoln, NE?
The typical price is $1,308, with most facilities between $1,285 and $1,318. Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $1,125 to $1,371 across all 4 Lincoln, NE 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 in Lincoln, NE?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Lincoln, NE data is MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS at about $1,125. By metro, Lincoln has the lowest median ($1,308). 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 so much cheaper at some Lincoln, NE hospitals?
Prices vary up to 1.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Lincoln, NE, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,308 versus a median negotiated rate of $525 - about 2.5× 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 in Lincoln, NE?
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
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Lincoln, NE
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 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 mri changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard mri with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
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 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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