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

PET Scan Cost in Kentucky (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a pet scan cost in Kentucky?

The same pet scan in Kentucky might cost you $1,301 at one facility and $3,685 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 36 reporting hospitals is $1,417. 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 Kentucky, from hospital price files

  • Norton Hospitals INC · Louisville, KY $1,161
  • UofL Health-Louisville Inc. · Louisville, KY $1,301
  • UofL Health -Shelbyville, Inc. · Shelbyville, KY $1,301

All 36 facilities are listed below, free.

Where pet scan costs vary in Kentucky

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.

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

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

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

Your personalized cost report includes:

  • ✓ Tracer: The tracer drug is billed separately from the scan at many hospitals, so the listed price may not include it.
  • ✓ PET vs. PET/CT: A combined PET/CT is priced differently from a PET alone.
  • ✓ Which bills usually arrive separately, and which providers to check are in-network
  • ✓ The questions to ask before you schedule, so the estimate covers everything
  • ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line

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Cheapest PET Scan Providers in Kentucky

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

# Facility City Price vs median ($1,417)
1 Norton Hospitals INC Louisville, KY $1,161 $256 below
2 UofL Health-Louisville Inc. Louisville, KY $1,301 $116 below
3 UofL Health -Shelbyville, Inc. Shelbyville, KY $1,301 $116 below
4 Meadowview Regional Medical Center KY $1,319 $98 below
5 Pikeville Medical Center Pikeville, KY $1,341 $76 below
6 Deaconess Health System Union County Hospital Morganfield, KY $1,373 $44 below
7 610920842 - The Medical Center at Bowling Green KY $1,376 $41 below
8 610920842 - The Medical Center at Russellville KY $1,376 $41 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

  • Norton Hospitals INC is the lowest-cost option at $1,161 - $256 below the median posted price ($1,417), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,417, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
PET Scan prices by coverage in Kentucky, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$1,461 to $1,461$1,461
With insurance (commercial, average)36$2,172 to $6,658$3,960
Without insurance (cash price)56$1,161 to $7,036$1,417
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield25$1,882 to $7,767$5,094
Aetna28$491 to $8,450$6,939
Cigna24$875 to $7,676$2,917
UnitedHealthcare21$1,000 to $7,416$5,824

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 PET Scan cost with Medicare in Kentucky?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for PET Scan is about $1,461 to $1,461 (typically near $1,461). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $292 on a $1,461 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 PET Scan cost with insurance in Kentucky?

Across 36 Kentucky hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for PET Scan average $2,172 to $6,658 per hospital, with a median near $3,960. 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 PET Scan cost without insurance in Kentucky?

Cash (self-pay) prices for PET Scan at 56 Kentucky hospitals range from $1,161 to $7,036, with a median of $1,417. 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 PET Scan cost with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky?

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for PET Scan at 25 Kentucky hospitals range from $1,882 to $7,767, with a median near $5,094. 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 PET Scan cost with Aetna in Kentucky?

Aetna negotiated rates for PET Scan at 28 Kentucky hospitals range from $491 to $8,450, with a median near $6,939. 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 much does a PET Scan cost with Cigna in Kentucky?

Cigna negotiated rates for PET Scan at 24 Kentucky hospitals range from $875 to $7,676, with a median near $2,917. 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 PET Scan cost with UnitedHealthcare in Kentucky?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for PET Scan at 21 Kentucky hospitals range from $1,000 to $7,416, with a median near $5,824. 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 where you go changes what you pay for pet scan

The same pet scan 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
$802–$24,087
  • Facility fee $802–$24,087

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$535–$4,699
  • Facility fee $535–$4,699

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health dominate Louisville, while UK HealthCare (University of Kentucky) and CHI Saint Joseph anchor the Lexington market. Kentucky has historically had high uninsured rates and elevated uncompensated care loads, which influences charity care policies and cash price discounting practices at many facilities.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $10,368, including 610920842 - The Medical Center at Albany at $8,607, 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 $1,430 versus $2,617 inpatient (about 1.8× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

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 ~$1,417
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$283
Out-of-network provider $3,117+

Frequently asked questions: PET Scan costs in Kentucky

How much does a PET Scan cost in Kentucky?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $1,258, with most facilities between $578 and $1,370 (based on 36 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Kentucky hospitals run $1,161–$7,036; 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 PET Scan in Kentucky?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Kentucky data is Norton Hospitals INC in Louisville at about $1,161. By metro, Louisville has the lowest median ($1,301). 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 a PET Scan so much cheaper at some Kentucky hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 2.4× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Kentucky, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,417 versus a median negotiated rate of $3,960 - 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 PET Scan in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky

PET Scan, 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 Kentucky

Imaging and scans

Heart and cardiac tests

Sleep and breathing tests

Scopes and screening

Bone, joint and pain

General surgery

Lab tests

Ear, nose and throat

Urology and women's health

Eye care

Infusions

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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