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

What does a xray cost in Kentucky?

For a commercially insured patient, an xray in Kentucky typically runs $65–$165 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 66 hospitals is $84. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where xray costs vary in Kentucky

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, 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.

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. X-ray is the most commoditized of all imaging procedures, and price differences are almost entirely explained by facility type: a hospital outpatient chest X-ray can cost 5–10× more than the same study at an urgent care center or independent imaging clinic. For non-emergency X-rays, asking your physician for a referral to an outpatient imaging center rather than a hospital radiology department is the simplest and most reliable cost reduction available.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (6) report prices above $295, including Ohio County Hospital at $359, 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 $80 versus $93 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.

Frequently asked questions: X-ray costs in Kentucky

How much does an X-ray cost in Kentucky?

Across 66 Kentucky hospitals that publish prices, an X-ray ranges from $30 to $4,715, with a median of $84. Most facilities fall between $50 and $140. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an X-ray in Kentucky?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Kentucky data is Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville at about $19. By metro, Louisville has the lowest median ($53). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and 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 X-ray so much cheaper at some Kentucky hospitals?

Prices vary up to 157.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Kentucky, the median cash (self-pay) price is $84 versus a median negotiated rate of $36 - about 2.3× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 X-ray 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.

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