X-Ray Cost in Philadelphia, PA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a x-ray cost in Philadelphia, PA?
Where you have an x-ray done in Philadelphia, PA swings the bill from $34 to $186 for identical care. The median cash price across 62 reporting hospitals is $87. 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 Philadelphia, PA, from hospital price files
- Jefferson Health - Northeast · Langhorne, PA $30
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Inc. · Philadelphia, PA $30
- Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Hospital - Center City · Philadelphia, PA $30
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 62 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where x-ray costs vary in Philadelphia, PA
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.
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Cheapest X-Ray Providers in Philadelphia, PA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, PA | $814 | -$000 |
| 2 | Jefferson Health - Northeast | Langhorne, PA | $30 | -$57 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, PA | $816 | -$000 |
| 4 | Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | $30 | -$57 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, PA | $818 | -$000 |
| 6 | Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Hospital - Center City | Philadelphia, PA | $30 | -$57 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, PA | $820 | -$000 |
| 8 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, PA | $821 | -$000 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Email me this price comparison plus what to ask before booking
Sends a PDF with all 62 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
- Abington Memorial Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $30 - $57 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 $87, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- This dataset covers hospitals only - freestanding ASCs, which routinely run 30-60% cheaper for the same procedure, aren't included, so it's worth asking your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $89 to $107 | $89 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 35 | $92 to $205 | $118 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 66 | $30 to $318 | $87 |
| Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield | 30 | $34 to $184 | $73 |
| Aetna | 30 | $54 to $307 | $120 |
| Cigna | 29 | $53 to $208 | $87 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 28 | $25 to $258 | $144 |
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 X-ray cost with Medicare in Philadelphia, PA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for X-ray is about $89 to $107 (typically near $89). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $18 on a $89 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 X-ray cost with insurance in Philadelphia, PA?
Across 35 Philadelphia, PA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for X-ray average $92 to $205 per hospital, with a median near $118. 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 X-ray cost without insurance in Philadelphia, PA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for X-ray at 66 Philadelphia, PA hospitals range from $30 to $318, with a median of $87. 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 X-ray cost with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Philadelphia, PA?
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiated rates for X-ray at 30 Philadelphia, PA hospitals range from $34 to $184, with a median near $73. 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 X-ray cost with Aetna in Philadelphia, PA?
Aetna negotiated rates for X-ray at 30 Philadelphia, PA hospitals range from $54 to $307, with a median near $120. 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 X-ray cost with Cigna in Philadelphia, PA?
Cigna negotiated rates for X-ray at 29 Philadelphia, PA hospitals range from $53 to $208, with a median near $87. 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 X-ray cost with UnitedHealthcare in Philadelphia, PA?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for X-ray at 28 Philadelphia, PA hospitals range from $25 to $258, with a median near $144. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Pennsylvania has a highly fragmented hospital market - Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple Health, and Tower Health compete in Philadelphia; UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network are engaged in one of the country's most litigated payer-provider disputes in Pittsburgh. The UPMC vs. Highmark conflict has directly affected patients' ability to use their insurance at in-network facilities. Rural Pennsylvania prices are substantially lower than the two major metro markets. 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 (3) report prices above $538, including Phoenixville Hospital at $931, 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 $84 versus $103 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.
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 | ~$87 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$17 |
| Out-of-network provider | $191+ |
Frequently asked questions: X-ray costs in Philadelphia, PA
How much does an X-ray cost in Philadelphia, PA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $13, with most facilities between $10 and $32 (based on 55 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $18 to $931 across all 62 Philadelphia, PA 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 X-ray in Philadelphia, PA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Philadelphia, PA data is Virtua_Our_Lady_of_Lourdes_Inc at about $18. By metro, Philadelphia has the lowest median ($64). 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 Philadelphia, PA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 51.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Philadelphia, PA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $87 versus a median negotiated rate of $118 - 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 X-ray in Philadelphia, PA?
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 a Medicare Summary Notice
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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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