PET Scan Cost in Montana (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a pet scan cost in Montana?
Where you have a pet scan done in Montana swings the bill from $1,459 to $5,147 for identical care. The median cash price across 20 reporting hospitals is $1,510. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Montana, from hospital price files
- McCone County Health Center $1,302
- Fallon Medical Complex · Baker, MT $1,310
- Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital · Hamilton, MT $1,310
All 20 facilities are listed below, free.
Where pet scan costs vary in Montana
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.
What you pay for a pet scan depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.
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Cheapest PET Scan Providers in Montana
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs median ($1,510) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCone County Health Center | MT | $1,302 | $208 below |
| 2 | Fallon Medical Complex | Baker, MT | $1,310 | $200 below |
| 3 | Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital | Hamilton, MT | $1,310 | $200 below |
| 4 | SCL HEALTH - MONTANA, DBA INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE | MT | $1,458 | $52 below |
| 5 | Logan Health Medical Center | Kalispell, MT | $1,460 | $50 below |
| 6 | Cabinet Peaks Medical Center | MT | $1,460 | $50 below |
| 7 | Providence Health & Services - Montana | Missoula, MT | $1,475 | $35 below |
| 8 | St. James Healthcare INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH ST JAMES HOSPITAL | Butte, MT | $1,487 | $23 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
- 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
- McCone County Health Center is the lowest-cost option at $1,302 - $208 below the median posted price ($1,510), just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,510, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $1,461 to $1,461 | $1,461 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 12 | $1,561 to $5,797 | $4,077 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 20 | $1,296 to $6,848 | $1,510 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana | 7 | $3,148 to $9,040 | $5,798 |
| Cigna | 4 | $1,276 to $3,445 | $1,562 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 3 | $4,493 to $7,355 | $5,454 |
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 Montana?
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 Montana?
Across 12 Montana hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for PET Scan average $1,561 to $5,797 per hospital, with a median near $4,077. 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 Montana?
Cash (self-pay) prices for PET Scan at 20 Montana hospitals range from $1,296 to $6,848, with a median of $1,510. 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana negotiated rates for PET Scan at 7 Montana hospitals range from $3,148 to $9,040, with a median near $5,798. 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 Cigna in Montana?
Cigna negotiated rates for PET Scan at 4 Montana hospitals range from $1,276 to $3,445, with a median near $1,562. 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 Montana?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for PET Scan at 3 Montana hospitals range from $4,493 to $7,355, with a median near $5,454. 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.
- Facility fee $1,183–$16,558
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $16,558–$16,558
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) and RiverStone Health cover most of Montana's population. The state's vast geography means most residents have little or no practical alternative to their nearest facility, effectively eliminating competitive pricing pressure outside Billings and Missoula. Critical access hospitals are widespread and use cost-based reimbursement for Medicare.
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 $12,361, including Community Medical Center at $16,558, 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 $1,510 versus $16,558 inpatient (about 11× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.
What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$1,510 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$302 |
| Out-of-network provider | $3,322+ |
Frequently asked questions: PET Scan costs in Montana
How much does a PET Scan cost in Montana?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $1,460, with most facilities between $1,310 and $1,533 (based on 20 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Montana hospitals run $1,296–$6,848; 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 Montana?
Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Montana data is McCone County Health Center at about $1,302. 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 Montana hospitals?
Typical prices vary about 1.2× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Montana, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,510 versus a median negotiated rate of $4,077 - 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 Montana?
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
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read your medical bill
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- How to read an EOB line by line
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PET Scan, elsewhere
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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