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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Nuclear Stress Test Cost in Alabama (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a nuclear stress test cost in Alabama?

The same nuclear stress test in Alabama might cost you $702 at one facility and $1,675 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 49 reporting hospitals is $1,172. These figures come straight 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 Alabama, from hospital price files

  • Baptist Health Walker Hospital · Jasper, AL $336
  • North Alabama Specialty Hospital · Huntsville, AL $371
  • HELEN KELLER HOSPITAL · Sheffield, AL $379

All 49 facilities are listed below, free.

Where nuclear stress test costs vary in Alabama

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby outpatient clinics and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

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

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What you pay for a nuclear stress test depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest Nuclear Stress Test Providers in Alabama

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

# Facility City Price vs median ($1,172)
1 Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper, AL $336 $836 below
2 North Alabama Specialty Hospital Huntsville, AL $371 $801 below
3 HELEN KELLER HOSPITAL Sheffield, AL $379 $793 below
4 Washington County Healthcare Authority, Inc Chatom, AL $406 $766 below
5 USA Health HCA Providence Hospital, LLC Mobile, AL $520 $652 below
6 RUSSELL HOSPITAL CORPORATION Alexander City, AL $546 $626 below
7 Ivy Creek of Tallapoosa Dadeville, AL $588 $584 below
8 Dale County Health Care Authority Ozark, AL $649 $523 below

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

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. 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

  • Baptist Health Walker Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $336 - $836 below the median posted price ($1,172), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,161, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Doctor offices and independent clinics may charge differently from hospitals for the same service and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset. Ask your doctor whether another site is an option.
Nuclear stress test prices by coverage in Alabama, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$1,323 to $1,323$1,323
With insurance (commercial, average)38$354 to $1,674$1,249
Without insurance (cash price)51$331 to $2,536$1,161
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama20$590 to $1,568$1,168
UnitedHealthcare25$137 to $2,539$1,145
Cigna24$65 to $991$485
Aetna23$84 to $2,109$1,464

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 nuclear stress test cost with Medicare in Alabama?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for nuclear stress test is about $1,323 to $1,323 (typically near $1,323). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $265 on a $1,323 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 nuclear stress test cost with insurance in Alabama?

Across 38 Alabama hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for nuclear stress test average $354 to $1,674 per hospital, with a median near $1,249. 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 nuclear stress test cost without insurance in Alabama?

Cash (self-pay) prices for nuclear stress test at 51 Alabama hospitals range from $331 to $2,536, with a median of $1,161. 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 nuclear stress test cost with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 20 Alabama hospitals range from $590 to $1,568, with a median near $1,168. 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 nuclear stress test cost with UnitedHealthcare in Alabama?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 25 Alabama hospitals range from $137 to $2,539, with a median near $1,145. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a nuclear stress test cost with Cigna in Alabama?

Cigna negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 24 Alabama hospitals range from $65 to $991, with a median near $485. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a nuclear stress test cost with Aetna in Alabama?

Aetna negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 23 Alabama hospitals range from $84 to $2,109, with a median near $1,464. 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 where you go changes what you pay for nuclear stress test

The same nuclear stress test 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
$776–$9,471
  • Facility fee $314–$7,775
  • Professional fee $462–$1,696

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$776–$9,471
  • Facility fee $314–$7,775
  • Professional fee $462–$1,696

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Alabama's hospital market is concentrated around UAB Health System in Birmingham and Baptist Health statewide, limiting competitive pricing pressure outside the major metros. Rural facilities operate with thinner margins and fewer negotiated-rate contracts, which typically produces higher list prices alongside steeper cash discounts.

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 (2) report prices above $4,318, including CULLMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER at $3,625, 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 $1,182 versus $1,566 inpatient (about 1.3× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

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 ~$1,172
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$234
Out-of-network provider $2,578+

Frequently asked questions: nuclear stress test costs in Alabama

How much does a nuclear stress test cost in Alabama?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $546, with most facilities between $305 and $1,099 (based on 49 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Alabama hospitals run $331–$2,536; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a nuclear stress test in Alabama?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Alabama data is Baptist Health Walker Hospital in Jasper at about $336. By metro, Birmingham has the lowest median ($329).

Why is a nuclear stress test so much cheaper at some Alabama hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 3.6× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Alabama, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,161 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,249 - 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 nuclear stress test in Alabama?

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 Alabama

Nuclear Stress Test, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in Alabama

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Emergency care

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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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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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