Ultrasound Cost in Boston, MA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ultrasound cost in Boston, MA?
Where you have an ultrasound done in Boston, MA swings the bill from $74 to $138 for identical care. The median cash price across 48 reporting hospitals is $90. 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 Boston, MA, from hospital price files
- PARKLAND MEDICAL CENTER · Derry, MA $59
- FRISBIE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL · Rochester, MA $61
- South Shore Hospital · South Weymouth, MA $64
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 48 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where ultrasound costs vary in Boston, MA
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.
The same ultrasound can be one bill or two - and the radiologist can be out-of-network even when the facility isn't.
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- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price - and the questions to ask first
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Cheapest Ultrasound Providers in Boston, MA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MA | $128 | -$000 |
| 2 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MA | $127 | -$000 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MA | $126 | -$000 |
| 4 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MA | $125 | -$000 |
| 5 | PARKLAND MEDICAL CENTER | Derry, MA | $59 | -$31 |
| 6 | FRISBIE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Rochester, MA | $61 | -$29 |
| 7 | South Shore Hospital | South Weymouth, MA | $64 | -$26 |
| 8 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MA | $121 | -$000 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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Sends a PDF with all 48 facilities ranked cheapest first, plus a short checklist of questions that change what you pay. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
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?
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Quick take
- PORTSMOUTH REGIONAL HOSPITAL is the lowest-cost option at $51 - $39 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 $90, 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) | — | $107 to $107 | $107 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 38 | $69 to $399 | $205 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 50 | $61 to $368 | $90 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | 27 | $116 to $232 | $152 |
| Cigna | 23 | $133 to $838 | $371 |
| Aetna | 19 | $119 to $507 | $361 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 17 | $109 to $369 | $356 |
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 ultrasound cost with Medicare in Boston, MA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for ultrasound is about $107 to $107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $21 on a $107 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 ultrasound cost with insurance in Boston, MA?
Across 38 Boston, MA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ultrasound average $69 to $399 per hospital, with a median near $205. 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 ultrasound cost without insurance in Boston, MA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ultrasound at 50 Boston, MA hospitals range from $61 to $368, with a median of $90. 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 an ultrasound cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in Boston, MA?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts negotiated rates for ultrasound at 27 Boston, MA hospitals range from $116 to $232, with a median near $152. 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 an ultrasound cost with Cigna in Boston, MA?
Cigna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 23 Boston, MA hospitals range from $133 to $838, with a median near $371. 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 an ultrasound cost with Aetna in Boston, MA?
Aetna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 19 Boston, MA hospitals range from $119 to $507, with a median near $361. 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 an ultrasound cost with UnitedHealthcare in Boston, MA?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ultrasound at 17 Boston, MA hospitals range from $109 to $369, with a median near $356. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Massachusetts has the highest commercial hospital reimbursement rates in the country, driven by extreme labor costs, the dominance of Mass General Brigham (Partners HealthCare), and a regulatory environment that has struggled to contain negotiated rate growth. The state has enacted multiple price transparency and rate growth laws aimed at curbing this pattern. Self-pay cash discounts in Massachusetts tend to be proportionally larger than in other high-cost states. Ultrasound pricing varies more by body part and clinical indication than almost any other imaging type - an OB ultrasound, a vascular duplex study, and an abdominal ultrasound carry different CPT codes and reimbursement rates even though the equipment is the same. Independent imaging centers typically charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for the same study. The sonographer skill matters more than setting for diagnostic quality.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (7) report prices above $285, including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston at $546, 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 $90 versus $106 inpatient (about 1.2× 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.
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 | ~$90 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$18 |
| Out-of-network provider | $198+ |
Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in Boston, MA
How much does an ultrasound cost in Boston, MA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $60, with most facilities between $35 and $81 (based on 52 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $26 to $546 across all 48 Boston, MA 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 ultrasound in Boston, MA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Boston, MA data is Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree at Framingham in Framingham at about $26. By metro, Portsmouth has the lowest median ($58). 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 ultrasound so much cheaper at some Boston, MA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 21× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Boston, MA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $90 versus a median negotiated rate of $205 - 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 an ultrasound in Boston, MA?
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
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- EOB vs medical bill: complete guide
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in Boston, MA
Ultrasound, 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 ultrasound - 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.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this ultrasound changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
This is shoppable
Ultrasound 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 ultrasound 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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