MRI Cost in Gainesville, FL

An MRI of the brain or lumbar spine uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not radiation, to produce detailed cross-sectional images. The patient lies on a table that slides into a large tube while the scanner records images, which a radiologist then reads and reports on. The hospital facility fee covers the scanner, the technologist, the room and the supplies used for the scan. This page covers two billing codes: 70551 (MRI Brain Without Contrast) and 72148 (MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast). All prices come from the price transparency files that CMS requires hospitals to publish, and they reflect facility charges only.

Data last accessed by us: 2026-10-15 · Newest hospital file date among hospitals below: 2026-09-01

Data may be outdated

This hospital's pricing file has not been updated since 2026-03-31 (198 days ago). Prices may not reflect current charges. Contact the hospital directly for current pricing.

Scope note: These are hospital facility fees only. Standalone imaging centers (not hospitals) often charge significantly less for outpatient imaging but are not covered by the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule, so they are not included in this data. We currently track only hospital-published prices.

MRI Brain Without Contrast (HCPCS 70551)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
HCA Gainesville *	$6,544.52	$6,544.52 *	$517.79	$2,945.03	Schedule →
HCA North Florida *	$6,544.52	$6,544.52 *	$517.79	$6,544.52	Schedule →
UF Health Shands	$2,921	$1,606.55	$168.43	$2,628.90	Schedule →

* Hospitals marked with * publish cash prices equal to their gross charges, meaning no separate self-pay discount appears in their transparency file. The insured rates shown are negotiated rates between the hospital and specific insurance plans. Uninsured patients may be able to negotiate lower rates by contacting the hospital directly.

MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (HCPCS 72148)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
HCA Gainesville *	$6,544.52	$6,544.52 *	$517.79	$2,945.03	Schedule →
HCA North Florida *	$6,544.52	$6,544.52 *	$517.79	$6,544.52	Schedule →
UF Health Shands	$2,921	$1,606.55	$168.43	$2,628.90	Schedule →

What These Prices Mean

Gross, cash and insured figures side by side
The gross charge is a hospital's full list price before any discounts. The cash price is what a self-pay patient is quoted. The insured range shows the lowest and highest rates negotiated with insurers. At UF Health Shands Hospital, the gross charge is $2,921 and the cash price is $1,606.55, which is 55% of gross. Insured rates there run from $168.43 to $2,628.90. At HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital and HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, the cash price is $6,544.52, equal to the $6,544.52 gross charge (100% of gross). People on a high-deductible plan who have not met their deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate, not the gross charge.

What each code covers
Code 70551 describes an MRI of the brain without contrast, and code 72148 describes an MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast. At each of the three hospitals, the two codes carry the same listed amounts in this dataset. HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital shows $6,544.52 for both codes, with insured rates from $517.79 to $2,945.03. HCA Florida North Florida Hospital shows $6,544.52 for both, with insured rates from $517.79 to $6,544.52. UF Health Shands Hospital shows $2,921 gross and $1,606.55 cash for both, so the code does not change the price at any hospital here.

Why MRI Prices Vary

Two systems, two pricing approaches
This page covers 3 hospitals in 2 health systems: HCA Healthcare (2 hospitals) and UF Health (1 hospital). Gross charges run from $2,921 at UF Health Shands Hospital to $6,544.52 at HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital, and the highest is about 2x the lowest. Cash prices follow a different pattern. Two of the 3 hospitals, HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital and HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, publish a cash price equal to the gross charge, so no self-pay discount appears in their files. UF Health Shands Hospital publishes a cash price of $1,606.55, which is 55% of its gross charge.

Beyond hospitals, and plan to plan
Outpatient imaging centers and other facilities outside this dataset may price the same scans differently, and their prices are not shown here. Insurer rates also vary widely. At UF Health Shands Hospital, 162 published rates for code 70551 range from $168.43 to $2,628.90, and the highest is about 16x the lowest. Medicaid-related plans sit at the low end, while workers compensation and PPO entries sit at the high end.

Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your MRI cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $1,606.55 to $6,544.52 (including hospitals that publish cash equal to gross charge, marked with * in the table). The lowest insured rate in the price table is $168.43 (UF Health Shands Hospital). Insured rates depend on the plan, and the lowest are often Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare Advantage plans, so they may not reflect what a commercial or marketplace plan pays. If you are uninsured, a marketplace health plan could reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Compare Health Insurance Plans → Get Free Plan Estimate →

Links go to Healthcare.gov, the official federal health insurance marketplace. We are not affiliated with Healthcare.gov or any insurance provider. This is not a recommendation for any specific plan.

What Insurers Actually Pay

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Published negotiated rates for MRI Brain Without Contrast (HCPCS 70551) at UF Health Shands, outpatient facility fee:

MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), UF Health Shands Payer Rates

Insurance Payer	Plan Type	Negotiated Rate
Beacon Health Strategies	Medicaid_Florida Healthy Kids	$168.43
Humana	MANAGED MEDICAID	$168.43
Sunshine State Health Plan	Medicaid HMO	$168.43
UHC	Behavioral Health Medicare/Medicaid	$168.43
UHC	Medicaid HMO/Florida CHIP	$168.43
Beacon Health Strategies	Medicaid_Florida Healthy Kids	$168.43
Humana	MANAGED MEDICAID	$168.43
Sunshine State Health Plan	Medicaid HMO	$168.43
UHC	Behavioral Health Medicare/Medicaid	$168.43
UHC	Medicaid HMO/Florida CHIP	$168.43
Beacon Health Strategies	Medicaid_Florida Healthy Kids	$168.43
Humana	MANAGED MEDICAID	$168.43
Sunshine State Health Plan	Medicaid HMO	$168.43
UHC	Behavioral Health Medicare/Medicaid	$168.43
UHC	Medicaid HMO/Florida CHIP	$168.43
Aetna Better Health	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Florida Community Care	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Aetna Better Health	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Florida Community Care	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Aetna Better Health	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Florida Community Care	Medicaid HMO	$176.09
Aetna Better Health	Healthy Kids	$176.94
Aetna Better Health	Healthy Kids	$176.94
Aetna Better Health	Healthy Kids	$176.94
AmeriHealth Caritas Florida	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Community Care Plan	Florida Healthy Kids- Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Molina	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
AmeriHealth Caritas Florida	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Community Care Plan	Florida Healthy Kids- Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Molina	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
AmeriHealth Caritas Florida	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Community Care Plan	Florida Healthy Kids- Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Molina	Medicaid HMO	$183.74
Simply Healthcare	MCD HMO	$194.16
Simply Healthcare	MCD HMO	$194.16
Simply Healthcare	MCD HMO	$194.16
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-HMO	$242.63
Optum	Behavioral Health Gov	$242.63
VHA	Gov	$242.63
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-HMO	$242.63
Optum	Behavioral Health Gov	$242.63
VHA	Gov	$242.63
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-HMO	$242.63
Optum	Behavioral Health Gov	$242.63
VHA	Gov	$242.63
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-PPO	$249.17
Capital Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$249.17
Humana	Medicare HMO	$249.17
North Central Hospice	Medicare	$249.17
Wellcare	MEDICARE ADV.	$249.17
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-PPO	$249.17
Capital Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$249.17
Humana	Medicare HMO	$249.17
North Central Hospice	Medicare	$249.17
Wellcare	MEDICARE ADV.	$249.17
BCBS	Medicare Advantage-PPO	$249.17
Capital Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$249.17
Humana	Medicare HMO	$249.17
North Central Hospice	Medicare	$249.17
Wellcare	MEDICARE ADV.	$249.17
Humana	Medicare Adv PPO	$251.66
Humana Behavioral Health	Medicare Advantage	$251.66
Humana	Medicare Adv PPO	$251.66
Humana Behavioral Health	Medicare Advantage	$251.66
Humana	Medicare Adv PPO	$251.66
Humana Behavioral Health	Medicare Advantage	$251.66
Careplus	MEDICARE ADV.-HMO	$256.64
Careplus	MEDICARE ADV.-HMO	$256.64
Careplus	MEDICARE ADV.-HMO	$256.64
UHC	Medicare Advantage	$259.13
UHC	Medicare Advantage	$259.13
UHC	Medicare Advantage	$259.13
CARELON HEALTH	MEDICARE ADVANTAGE	$264.37
CARELON HEALTH	MEDICARE ADVANTAGE	$264.37
CARELON HEALTH	MEDICARE ADVANTAGE	$264.37
Positive Healthcare Partners	Ryan White Members	$266.90
Positive Healthcare Partners	Ryan White Members	$266.90
Positive Healthcare Partners	Ryan White Members	$266.90
AHF MCO OF FL	Medicare HMO (SPN)	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare PPO	$274.08
Freedom Health- Inc./Optimum HealthCare- Inc.	Medicare Advantage	$274.08
AHF MCO OF FL	Medicare HMO (SPN)	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare PPO	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$274.08
Freedom Health- Inc./Optimum HealthCare- Inc.	Medicare Advantage	$274.08
AHF MCO OF FL	Medicare HMO (SPN)	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare HMO	$274.08
Devoted Health Plan	Medicare PPO	$274.08
Freedom Health- Inc./Optimum HealthCare- Inc.	Medicare Advantage	$274.08
Ghilcrest County	Inmate Services	$303.29
Levy County	Inmate Services	$303.29
Ghilcrest County	Inmate Services	$303.29
Levy County	Inmate Services	$303.29
Ghilcrest County	Inmate Services	$303.29
Levy County	Inmate Services	$303.29
WellPath	Inmate Services	$388.21
WellPath	Inmate Services	$388.21
WellPath	Inmate Services	$388.21
Ambetter	All Products	$402.77
Ambetter	All Products	$402.77
Ambetter	All Products	$402.77
Florida Health Care Plan	HMO	$436.74
Florida Health Care Plan	HMO	$436.74
Florida Health Care Plan	HMO	$436.74
BCBS	Gatorcare	$896.26
BCBS	Gatorcare	$896.26
BCBS	Gatorcare	$896.26
UAA	Student Athletes	$979.55
UAA	Student Athletes	$1,112.90
UAA	Student Athletes	$1,112.90
Northeast FL Hospital	Self Insured	$1,131.24
BCBS	Blue Select PPO	$1,181.29
BCBS	Blue Select PPO	$1,181.29
BCBS	Blue Select PPO	$1,181.29
Northeast FL Hospital	Self Insured	$1,285.24
Northeast FL Hospital	Self Insured	$1,285.24
Capital Health Plan	Commercial	$1,285.50
BCBS	Commercial-HMO	$1,311.98
BCBS	Commercial-HMO	$1,311.98
BCBS	Commercial-HMO	$1,311.98
BCBS	NWB- PPO- CUF- JUF	$1,367.54
BCBS	NWB- PPO- CUF- JUF	$1,367.54
BCBS	NWB- PPO- CUF- JUF	$1,367.54
Capital Health Plan	Commercial	$1,460.50
Capital Health Plan	Commercial	$1,460.50
AVMED	Select and Entrust Network	$1,523.60
AVMED	Select and Entrust Network	$1,523.60
AVMED	Select and Entrust Network	$1,523.60
BCBS	PHS-PPS	$1,572.31
BCBS	PHS-PPS	$1,572.31
BCBS	PHS-PPS	$1,572.31
AVMED	All Products	$1,672.32
AVMED	All Products	$1,672.32
AVMED	All Products	$1,672.32
Health First	All Products	$1,799.70
Health First	Medicare Advantage	$1,799.70
Prime Health Services	Inmate Services	$1,799.70
Archbold Medical Center	PPO	$1,928.25
GENEX	Workers Comp	$1,928.25
Health First	Medicare Advantage	$2,044.70
Health First	All Products	$2,044.70
Prime Health Services	Inmate Services	$2,044.70
Health First	Medicare Advantage	$2,044.70
Health First	All Products	$2,044.70
Prime Health Services	Inmate Services	$2,044.70
Aetna Health	ASA	$2,118.50
Corvel Corp	Workers Comp	$2,185.35
Archbold Medical Center	PPO	$2,190.75
GENEX	Workers Comp	$2,190.75
Archbold Medical Center	PPO	$2,190.75
GENEX	Workers Comp	$2,190.75
GEHA	PPO	$2,313.90
Aetna Health	ASA	$2,406.90
Aetna Health	ASA	$2,406.90
Cigna	ALL PRODUCTS	$2,431.80
Cigna	ALL PRODUCTS	$2,431.80
Cigna	ALL PRODUCTS	$2,431.80
Corvel Corp	Workers Comp	$2,482.85
Corvel Corp	Workers Comp	$2,482.85
GEHA	PPO	$2,628.90
GEHA	PPO	$2,628.90

Key finding: At UF Health Shands Hospital, published insurer rates for code 70551 run from $168.43 for several Medicaid plans to $2,628.90 for a GEHA PPO, about 16x apart.

What to Do With These MRI Prices

Quote the right code, then ask for the cash price. This page covers two scans: 70551 (MRI brain without contrast) and 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast). Ask the ordering office for the exact CPT code and whether the order is with or without contrast, since contrast changes the code. Then ask the hospital for its cash or self-pay price and an itemized estimate for that code.

Set the quote beside the rates at the same hospital. At HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital, cash for both scans is $6,544.52, the same as the gross charge, while insured rates for 70551 are listed at $517.79. UF Health Shands Hospital publishes a separate cash price of $1,606.55 for both codes. If a quote matches a gross charge, you can ask whether a different price exists.

Expect a second bill from the radiologist. The figures here are the hospital's technical charge. The radiologist who reads the images usually bills separately, so ask whether the estimate includes the reading and who sends that bill. On the hospital bill, check that the facility line matches the code you were quoted.

Confirm the code and contrast on every line.
Ask whether professional fees are billed apart.

Gaps in this data. Every row on this page has a published cash price and gross charge, so nothing here is missing. Outpatient and freestanding imaging centers are not included and may price differently.

Financial assistance and discounts. Nonprofit hospitals are required to publish a financial assistance policy, and the billing office can send it with an application. Some hospitals also offer prompt-pay or self-pay discounts; these vary by hospital and are not included in this data. If you are uninsured or not using insurance for scheduled care, you can ask the provider for a good faith estimate before the appointment.

General information about using published prices, not medical, legal or financial advice. Confirm your own cost with the hospital and your insurer. Our methodology · Medical Disclaimer

What Patients Ask About MRI Costs

How much does a mri cost without insurance in Gainesville?

Among the hospitals on this page, cash prices run from $1,606.55 at UF Health Shands Hospital to $6,544.52 at HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital. HCA Florida North Florida Hospital also lists $6,544.52. All 6 price rows on this page have a published cash price, so none is missing data. The two HCA Healthcare hospitals show cash equal to gross charge, meaning no self-pay discount is published. These figures cover the facility charge only. A radiologist's professional fee for reading the images is billed separately and is not included in them.

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

The gross charge is a hospital's full list price, which few patients are billed in practice. A cash price is a separate figure that a hospital may set lower. At UF Health Shands Hospital, the gross charge is $2,921 and the cash price is $1,606.55, which is 55% of gross. At HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital and HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, the cash price is 100% of gross at $6,544.52, so their files show no discount from the list price. Whether a gap exists depends on each hospital's published self-pay policy.

Does insurance cover a mri?

Whether insurance covers an MRI depends on the specific plan, so the plan itself is the source for that answer. The insured figures on this page show negotiated facility rates only. At UF Health Shands Hospital they run from $168.43 to $2,628.90. At HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital they run from $517.79 to $2,945.03, and at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital from $517.79 to $6,544.52. People on a high-deductible plan who have not met their deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate until the deductible is met.

Are there additional fees beyond the mri facility charge?

Yes. The facility charge on this page covers the hospital's equipment, staff and room. Other bills may arrive separately. A radiologist typically bills a professional fee for reading and reporting on the images. An ordering physician's office visit may be billed on its own. If contrast material or sedation is used, those can be billed as separate line items, and some hospitals bill them on different statements. Insurance plans may also apply their own cost sharing, such as deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. An itemized bill shows which charges apply to a specific scan.

What is the cash price for an MRI brain scan at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville?

UF Health Shands Hospital publishes a cash price of $1,606.55 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), against a gross charge of $2,921. That cash price is 55% of the gross charge. These figures are facility charges only, so separate professional or radiologist fees are not included.

What is the highest published price for an MRI in Gainesville?

The highest published price on this page is $6,544.52, listed at HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551). The same amount appears as the gross charge and cash price at both HCA Florida hospitals here. It is a facility charge only and does not include other bills.

What is the difference between CPT 70551 and 72148 on this page?

CPT 70551 is MRI Brain Without Contrast and 72148 is MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast. At UF Health Shands Hospital, both codes show the same $2,921 gross charge and $1,606.55 cash price. At HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital, both show $6,544.52 as cash, though insured rates differ by code. All figures are facility charges only.

How much does UnitedHealthcare pay for an MRI in Gainesville?

On this page, UnitedHealthcare's published rates run from $168.43 at UF Health Shands Hospital to $2,945.03 at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, with a median of $517.79 across 3 hospitals. These are facility rates only. Your own cost depends on your plan details, which are not in this data.

Do HCA Florida hospitals in Gainesville offer a discounted self-pay price for MRI?

No discount is published. HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital and HCA Florida North Florida Hospital both list a cash price of $6,544.52, equal to the gross charge, for both MRI codes shown. UF Health Shands Hospital is the one hospital here with a cash price below gross, at $1,606.55. Figures are facility charges only.

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Data Sources

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Heads up: source files are large

Hospital CMS transparency files typically range from tens of megabytes to several hundred megabytes. Clicking a link below will open the file in a new tab and may trigger a large download, which can consume mobile data or slow down older devices. These files are intended for data processing, not casual viewing.

HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital

File updated: 2026-09-01 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Brian T Cook

We are not affiliated with HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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HCA Florida North Florida Hospital

File updated: 2026-09-01 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Gabriel Bullaro

We are not affiliated with HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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UF Health Shands Hospital

File updated: 2026-03-31 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Kent Bailey

We are not affiliated with UF Health Shands Hospital. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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