MRI Cost in Chattanooga, TN

How much does a mri cost without insurance in Chattanooga?

Cash prices for MRI without insurance in Chattanooga range from $156.82 to $10,890.27. For the lumbar spine (72148), cash prices are $156.82 at Erlanger Baroness, $711.59 at CHI Memorial Hixson, $1,016.90 at CHI Memorial Chattanooga, and $10,890.27 at both Parkridge East and Parkridge Medical Center. For the brain (70551), they are $165.79, $818.44, $1,169.60, and $10,890.27 at the same facilities. The brain code runs higher than the lumbar code at the Erlanger and CHI Memorial hospitals. These are facility fees only. Physician and professional fees are billed separately.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge is the hospital's chargemaster price, a full list price that almost no one pays. Insurers negotiate lower rates, and self-pay patients are typically offered a cash price. Cash is 53% of gross at Erlanger Baroness ($156.82 of $297), 30% at CHI Memorial Hixson ($711.59 of $2,404), and 42% at CHI Memorial Chattanooga ($1,016.90 of $2,404). CHI Memorial Hixson's 70% discount is larger than Erlanger Baroness's 47%, yet its cash price is still higher because its starting gross charge is much larger. Parkridge lists cash equal to gross at $10,890.27, so no discount applies.

Does insurance cover a mri?

Coverage depends on your plan and whether the scan meets the plan's medical necessity criteria. Many plans require prior authorization for non-emergency MRI. Negotiated rates vary widely: for the brain MRI, payer rates range from $57.05 to $9,583.44 across 755 listed rates. If you are on a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, you owe the negotiated rate for your plan, not the gross charge. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, copay, and coinsurance, so the plan's rate for your specific insurer is the figure that applies.

Are there additional fees beyond the mri facility charge?

Yes. The prices on this page are hospital facility fees, which cover the scanner, room, technologist, and equipment. A radiologist's fee for reading and interpreting the images is a professional fee billed separately, often by a different practice than the hospital. These amounts are not included in the hospital price data. If an MRI is performed in the emergency department, a separate ER facility fee is also billed. Billing for the ordering physician's visit is separate as well. Dollar amounts for these additional fees are not part of the hospital transparency files used here.

What is the cash price for an MRI brain scan at CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson?

CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson lists a cash price of $818.44 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (CPT 70551), which is 30% of its gross charge of $2,765. This is a facility charge only, so separate bills such as a radiologist's reading may not be included in this figure.

What is the highest published MRI price in Chattanooga, TN?

The highest published cash price on this page is $10,890.27 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551) at Parkridge East Hospital. Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Medical Center both list this amount for both codes, and it matches their gross charge. These are facility charges only.

What is the lowest cash price for an MRI in Chattanooga?

The lowest published cash price on this page is $711.59 for MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (72148) at CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson. That is a facility charge only. All 8 hospital and code rows on this page have a published cash price, so none are missing.

Do Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Medical Center offer a self-pay discount on MRI?

No self-pay discount is published for either hospital. Both Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Medical Center list a cash price of $10,890.27 for both codes, equal to the gross charge (100%). This is the facility charge only, and it is the published figure, not a confirmed quote.

How much do insurance rates for an MRI lumbar spine vary at Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga?

Parkridge Medical Center publishes 119 rates for MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (72148). They run from $171.73 for Aetna to $9,583.44 for Beech Street and Prime Health, about 56x the lowest. Health One Alliance is listed at $221.23. These are facility charges only, and the rate depends on the insurer and plan.