MRI Cost in Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves, rather than radiation, to produce detailed cross-sectional images of internal body structures. The patient lies on a table that slides into a large tube-shaped scanner while the machine captures images. This page covers two billing codes: HCPCS 70551 (MRI Brain Without Contrast) and HCPCS 72148 (MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast). The facility fee is the hospital's charge for the scanner, the room, and the technologists and support staff. Prices below come from CMS-mandated hospital transparency files, and physician fees are billed separately.

Data last accessed by us: 2026-10-15 · Newest hospital file date among hospitals below: 6/30/2026

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 Cash Price
HCA Blake * $6,805.36 * Schedule →
HCA Englewood * $7,665.63 * Schedule →
HCA Sarasota Doctors * $10,193.04 * Schedule →
Sarasota Memorial $1,358.80 Schedule →
Sarasota Memorial Venice $1,358.80 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 Cash Price
HCA Blake * $7,226.08 * Schedule →
HCA Englewood * $11,566.04 * Schedule →
HCA Sarasota Doctors * $10,193.04 * Schedule →
Sarasota Memorial $1,546.40 Schedule →
Sarasota Memorial Venice $1,546.40 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.

What These Prices Mean

Understanding the price columns
The gross charge is the hospital's full list price, also called the chargemaster rate. The cash price is what a patient without insurance, or one choosing to pay out of pocket, is quoted. The insured range shows the lowest and highest negotiated rates across insurance plans. For MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), Sarasota Memorial lists a gross charge of $3,397 and a cash price of $1,358.8, which is 40% of gross. HCA Blake lists a gross charge of $6,805.36 and a cash price of $6,805.36, which is 100% of gross. Patients on high-deductible plans who have not met their deductible owe the negotiated rate, not the gross charge.

Code variations
The two codes differ by the body region scanned. Code 70551 images the brain; code 72148 images the lumbar spine, the lower portion of the back. At Sarasota Memorial, the lumbar spine scan has a cash price of $1,546.4, which is $187.6 more than the brain scan at $1,358.8. At HCA Blake, the difference is $420.72 ($7,226.08 versus $6,805.36). At HCA Englewood, it is $3,900.41 ($11,566.04 versus $7,665.63). At HCA Sarasota Doctors, both codes carry the same cash price of $10,193.04.

Why MRI Prices Vary

Hospital pricing structures
Gross charges for the brain MRI range from $3,397 at Sarasota Memorial to $10,193.04 at HCA Sarasota Doctors, a gap of $6,796.04. The cash price gap is larger in relative terms but similar in size: $1,358.8 versus $10,193.04, a difference of $8,834.24. The Sarasota Memorial hospitals apply a cash price equal to 40% of gross, a 60% discount. The three HCA hospitals in this dataset list cash prices equal to 100% of gross, so no discount is applied to the self-pay price. Even where a discount exists, a high starting gross charge can still produce a high cash price.

Facility type and alternatives
All five hospitals here are general acute care hospitals, and hospital-based imaging carries the overhead of a full-service facility. Outpatient or freestanding imaging centers are not included in this dataset and may charge differently. Across both codes and all five hospitals, cash prices range from $1,358.8 to $11,566.04. Insured rates vary widely within each hospital, which shows that the same scan can carry very different prices depending on the payer contract.
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Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your MRI cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $1,358.80 to $11,566.04 (including hospitals that publish cash equal to gross charge, marked with * in the table). The lowest insured rate in the price table is $55.77 (Sarasota Memorial 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.

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.

Compare Insurer Rates for MRI in Sarasota-Bradenton

How much does each insurance company pay for mri at Sarasota-Bradenton hospitals?

Insurer Lowest Rate Hospitals
Simply Healthcare $55.77 5
Sunshine Health $55.77 5
Molina Healthcare $57.36 5
AmeriHealth Caritas $58.42 5
UnitedHealthcare $72 5
Aetna $73.19 5
Cigna $103.80 3
Freedom Health $319.85 3

Rates shown are the lowest and highest negotiated rates each insurer has published across Sarasota-Bradenton hospitals for this procedure. Your actual cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance.

What Insurers Actually Pay

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Published negotiated rates for MRI Brain Without Contrast (HCPCS 70551) at Sarasota Memorial, outpatient facility fee:

MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), Sarasota Memorial Payer Rates

Insurance Payer Plan Type Negotiated Rate
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $55.77
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $55.77
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $55.77
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $55.77
Sunshine State Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $55.77
Sunshine State Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $55.77
Molina Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $57.36
Molina Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $57.36
Molina Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $57.36
Molina Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $57.36
Community Care Plan Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $58.42
Community Care Plan Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $58.42
Amerihealth Caritas Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $58.42
Amerihealth Caritas Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $58.42
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $68.40
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $68.40
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $70.10
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $70.10
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $72
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $72
Aetna Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $73.19
Aetna Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $73.19
WellCare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $73.60
WellCare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $73.60
Simply Freedom Optimum Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $76.03
Simply Freedom Optimum Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $76.03
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $86.40
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $86.40
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Blue Select $98.08
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Blue Select $98.08
Cigna Oncology UPW Commercial $103.80
Cigna Oncology UPW Commercial $103.80
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $104.55
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $104.55
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $104.55
Simply Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $104.55
Sunshine State Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $104.55
Sunshine State Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $104.55
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Health Options $105.32
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Health Options $105.32
Molina Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $107.54
Molina Oncology UPW Healthy Kids $107.54
Molina Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $107.54
Molina Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $107.54
Community Care Plan Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $109.52
Community Care Plan Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $109.52
Amerihealth Caritas Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $109.52
Amerihealth Caritas Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $109.52
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Network Blue $110.59
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Network Blue $110.59
Blue Cross Oncology UPW PPC PPO $113.22
Blue Cross Oncology UPW PPC PPO $113.22
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Traditional $113.22
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Traditional $113.22
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Commercial $114.23
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Commercial $114.23
Oscar Health Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $117.49
Oscar Health Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $117.49
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $122.34
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $122.34
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $129.36
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $129.36
Aetna Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $130.90
Aetna Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $130.90
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $131.42
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicaid HMO $131.42
WellCare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $132.04
WellCare Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $132.04
Simply Freedom Optimum Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $138.20
Simply Freedom Optimum Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $138.20
Simply Healthcare Healthy Kids $153.12
Aetna Oncology UPW Commercial $154.98
Aetna Oncology UPW Commercial $154.98
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $155.23
Florida Community Care Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $155.23
Simply Healthcare Medicaid HMO $160.78
Sunshine State Medicaid HMO $160.78
Molina Healthy Kids $165.37
Molina Medicaid HMO $165.37
Florida Community Care Medicaid HMO $168.44
Community Care Plan Medicaid HMO $168.44
Amerihealth Caritas Medicaid HMO $168.44
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Blue Select $177.19
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Blue Select $177.19
AmBetter Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $184.44
AmBetter Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $184.44
Cigna Oncology UPW Commercial $186.21
Cigna Oncology UPW Commercial $186.21
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Health Options $190.27
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Health Options $190.27
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Network Blue $199.78
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Network Blue $199.78
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Medicare Advantage $203.55
Blue Cross Oncology UPW PPC PPO $204.54
Blue Cross Oncology UPW PPC PPO $204.54
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Traditional $204.54
Blue Cross Oncology UPW Traditional $204.54
Oscar Health Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $210.77
Oscar Health Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $210.77
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Commercial $225.73
United Healthcare Oncology UPW Commercial $225.73
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage $249.16
Aetna Medicare Advantage $254.76
United Healthcare Medicare Advantage $256.64
WellCare Medicare Advantage $261.62
Simply Freedom Optimum Medicare Advantage $261.62
Florida Community Care Medicare Advantage $274.08
Aetna Oncology UPW Commercial $298.58
Aetna Oncology UPW Commercial $298.58
AmBetter Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $330.86
AmBetter Oncology UPW Individual Exchange $330.86
Aetna Worker's Compensation $460.49
Enlyte Worker's Compensation $460.49
Careworks Worker's Compensation $460.49
United Healthcare Non-Options PPO $524.34
United Healthcare Individual Exchange $524.34
AmBetter Individual Exchange $672.74
Cigna Commercial $687.47
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,119.73
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,119.73
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,119.73
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,119.73
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,119.73
Aetna Signature $2,377.90
Aetna Signature $2,377.90
Aetna Signature $2,377.90
Aetna Signature $2,377.90
Aetna Signature $2,377.90
Avmed Commercial $2,430.90
Avmed Commercial $2,430.90
Avmed Commercial $2,430.90
Avmed Commercial $2,430.90
Avmed Commercial $2,430.90
Cigna PPO $2,445.84
Cigna PPO $2,445.84
Cigna PPO $2,445.84
Cigna PPO $2,445.84
Cigna PPO $2,445.84
United Healthcare Indemnity $2,551.15
United Healthcare Indemnity $2,551.15
United Healthcare Indemnity $2,551.15
United Healthcare Indemnity $2,551.15
United Healthcare Indemnity $2,551.15
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $2,571.53
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $2,571.53
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $2,571.53
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $2,571.53
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $2,571.53
USA Managed Care PPO $2,664
USA Managed Care PPO $2,664
USA Managed Care PPO $2,664
USA Managed Care PPO $2,664
USA Managed Care PPO $2,664
Aetna Worker's Compensation $2,713.04
Enlyte Worker's Compensation $2,713.04
Careworks Worker's Compensation $2,713.04
Aetna International $2,717.60
Aetna International $2,717.60
Aetna International $2,717.60
Aetna International $2,717.60
Aetna International $2,717.60
First Health PPO $2,763.90
First Health PPO $2,763.90
First Health PPO $2,763.90
First Health PPO $2,763.90
First Health PPO $2,763.90
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,826.10
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,826.10
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,826.10
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,826.10
United Healthcare Options PPO $2,826.10
Aetna Signature $3,170.30
Aetna Signature $3,170.30
Aetna Signature $3,170.30
Aetna Signature $3,170.30
Aetna Signature $3,170.30
Avmed Commercial $3,241.20
Avmed Commercial $3,241.20
Avmed Commercial $3,241.20
Avmed Commercial $3,241.20
Avmed Commercial $3,241.20
Cigna PPO $3,260.88
Cigna PPO $3,260.88
Cigna PPO $3,260.88
Cigna PPO $3,260.88
Cigna PPO $3,260.88
Aetna Gatekeeper $3,305.25
United Healthcare Indemnity $3,401.28
United Healthcare Indemnity $3,401.28
United Healthcare Indemnity $3,401.28
United Healthcare Indemnity $3,401.28
United Healthcare Indemnity $3,401.28
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $3,428.45
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $3,428.45
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $3,428.45
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $3,428.45
Aetna Non-Gatekeeper $3,428.45
USA Managed Care PPO $3,552
USA Managed Care PPO $3,552
USA Managed Care PPO $3,552
USA Managed Care PPO $3,552
USA Managed Care PPO $3,552
Aetna International $3,623.20
Aetna International $3,623.20
Aetna International $3,623.20
Aetna International $3,623.20
Aetna International $3,623.20
First Health PPO $3,685.20
First Health PPO $3,685.20
First Health PPO $3,685.20
First Health PPO $3,685.20
First Health PPO $3,685.20

Key finding: Brain MRI negotiated rates range from $55.77 for Simply Healthcare Medicaid plans at Sarasota Memorial to $9,377.6 for Evolutions Healthcare Systems CHOICENETWORK at HCA Sarasota Doctors, a 168x difference.

What to Do With These MRI Prices

Pin the code before you ask for a price. This page covers two scans: 70551 (brain, without contrast) and 72148 (lumbar spine, without contrast). Ask the office that ordered your MRI for the exact CPT code, and whether contrast is part of the order, since that changes the code. Then call the hospital's billing office, quote the code, and ask for the cash or self-pay price plus an itemized estimate.

Check the cash quote against the insured range. At HCA Florida Blake Hospital, the cash price for 70551 is $6,805.36, the same as the gross charge, and it sits above the highest insured rate there of $6,260.93. At Sarasota Memorial Hospital, cash for the same code is $1,358.80, below that hospital's top insured rate of $3,685.20. If your quote matches a gross charge, ask whether a lower cash rate exists.

Sort the bill by who is charging. The figures here are the hospital's technical (facility) charge only. The radiologist who reads your images usually bills separately, and that bill may come from a different company. Ask whether the quote includes the reading, and check the final bill for each charge.

  • Facility fee for the scan
  • Radiologist's reading fee
  • Any contrast or supply line

What is missing here. Every row on this page has a published cash price and gross charge, so no $0 entries need decoding. Outpatient and freestanding imaging centers are not in this dataset 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 Sarasota-Bradenton?

Without insurance, cash prices for an MRI in Sarasota-Bradenton range from $1,358.8 to $11,566.04. For the brain scan (70551), cash prices are $1,358.8 at Sarasota Memorial and Sarasota Memorial Venice, $6,805.36 at HCA Blake, $7,665.63 at HCA Englewood, and $10,193.04 at HCA Sarasota Doctors. For the lumbar spine scan (72148), cash prices are $1,546.4 at both Sarasota Memorial hospitals, $7,226.08 at HCA Blake, $10,193.04 at HCA Sarasota Doctors, and $11,566.04 at HCA Englewood. 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, or chargemaster price, is a hospital's full list price before any discounts. Almost no one pays it. At the Sarasota Memorial hospitals, the cash price is 40% of gross: $1,358.8 against $3,397 for the brain MRI, and $1,546.4 against $3,866 for the lumbar spine MRI. At the three HCA hospitals, cash price equals gross charge, or 100%. Sarasota Memorial applies a larger percentage discount, but the HCA hospitals start from much higher gross charges, so their cash prices are still higher in dollar terms. Insurers typically pay negotiated rates well below gross.

Does insurance cover a mri?

Coverage depends on your specific plan and on whether the plan considers the scan medically necessary. Many plans require prior authorization for non-emergency MRIs. Negotiated rates vary widely: brain MRI rates run from $55.77 to $9,377.6 across 515 payer rates, and lumbar spine MRI rates run from $56.03 to $10,640.76 across 371 payer rates. If you have a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, you owe the negotiated rate for your plan, not the gross charge. Your insurer can confirm your coverage and cost-sharing.

Are there additional fees beyond the mri facility charge?

Yes. The prices listed here are facility fees, which cover the hospital's scanner, room, and staff. A radiologist who reads and interprets the images typically bills a separate professional fee. Other physician services may also be billed separately from the hospital. If the scan is performed in the emergency department, a separate ER facility fee applies in addition to the imaging charge. These fees are not included in the figures on this page, and amounts vary by provider and insurance plan.

What is the self-pay price for an MRI brain scan at Sarasota Memorial Hospital?

Sarasota Memorial Hospital lists a cash price of $1,358.80 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), against a gross charge of $3,397. The cash price is 40% of gross. This is the facility charge only, so separate bills such as a radiologist reading are not included in this figure.

Is the cash price the same as the gross charge at HCA Florida Blake Hospital?

Yes. HCA Florida Blake Hospital publishes cash equal to gross for both codes on this page: $6,805.36 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551) and $7,226.08 for MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (72148). That means no self-pay discount is published. These are facility charges only.

What are the lowest and highest published MRI cash prices in Bradenton and Sarasota?

Across the 5 hospitals on this page, published cash prices run from $1,358.80 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital (70551) to $11,566.04 at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital (72148). All 10 price rows have a cash price. These are facility charges only and do not include other bills.

What does UnitedHealthcare pay for an MRI in Sarasota?

On this page, UnitedHealthcare rates for the 2 MRI codes run from $72 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital to $4,586.87 at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, with a median of $521.07 across 5 hospitals. These are facility rates only, and the amount a patient owes depends on the individual plan.

How do Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice compare for a lumbar spine MRI?

For MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (72148), both Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice list a gross charge of $3,866 and a cash price of $1,546.40. Their insured rates differ at the low end: $56.03 and $153.12 respectively. All figures are facility charges only.

Compare Other Procedures in Sarasota-Bradenton

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 Blake Hospital

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

Attested by: Mark Amox

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

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HCA Florida Englewood Hospital

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

Attested by: Kelly Lindsay

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

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HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital

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

Attested by: Joseph Rudisill

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

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Sarasota Memorial Hospital

File updated: 6/30/2026 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: JR Edmiston

We are not affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice

File updated: 6/30/2026 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: JR Edmiston

We are not affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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