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 |  | With Health Insurance: $10-$50 Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $100-$1,000+ |
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X-rays are used for diagnosis and treatment in a variety of situations -- from dental surgery to broken bones. Risks include exposure to radiation and possible harm to the fetus in a pregnant patient.
Typical costs: | - X-rays typically are covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of nothing, if the plan covers X-rays in full, or a copay of $10-$50 or coinsurance of about 10%-50%.
- For patients without health insurance, X-rays typically cost about $100-$1,000 or more. On average, X-rays cost $260-$460, varying by provider and geographic location, according to NewChoiceHealth.com[1] . Actual X-ray cost depends on the provider, the part of the body being X-rayed, and the number of views taken. According to NewChoiceHealth.com, the average cost for a finger X-ray is $100, for a hand $180, for a wrist $190, for a knee $200, for a thigh $280, for a pelvis $350, for a chest $370, and for a full body $1,100. The average cost for more specialized X-rays, such as those of various arteries, veins or ducts in the body, can reach $20,000 to $30,000 or more. Berger Health System in Ohio offers a price list[2] for X-rays that ranges from $203 for a one-view chest X-ray to $536 for a series of abdominal X-rays. Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis offers a price tool that estimates the cost of a hand X-ray at $95, a two-view wrist X-ray at $142, a collar bone X-ray at $147, a three-view knee X-ray at $179, a lower spine X-ray at $349, and a hip X-ray at $463; and an artery X-ray at $26,161 per vessel.
Related articles: Chest X-Ray, Bone X-Ray, Dental X-Rays, Health Insurance
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What should be included: | - The technologist will activate the machine, which emits X-rays that pass through the area of the body being X-rayed and create an image on an image recording plate or film. In some cases, the technologist will reposition the patient and take more X-rays from another view.
- Later, a radiologist[3] , a physician who specializes in imaging, will interpret the images and send a report to and/or confer with the physician who ordered the X-ray.
Additional costs: | - Depending on the results of the X-ray, the doctor might order additional tests, which could include an MRI, or a CT scan, which could cost $1,000 -$3,000 or more, or other tests.
Discounts: | - Some clinics offer X-ray services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator[4] for clinics that provide discounted care on a sliding scale based on income.
- Many imaging centers and hospitals offer a discount of up to 30%or more for cash-paying patients. For example, Park Nicollet Health Services in Minnesota offers a discount of about 40% on medically necessary services, including X-rays, to self-pay patients with a gross family income of less than $125,000.
Shopping for an x-ray: | - A family doctor or specialist can make a referral to a hospital or imaging center. Or, the American College of Radiology offers a list of accredited imaging facilities[5] .
- Any woman who is or could be pregnant should discuss risks with her doctor when considering an X-ray. RadiologyInfo.org has information about X-rays and pregnancy[6] .
- RadiologyInfo.org offers a primer[7] on safety, radiation exposure and X-rays.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: CLBerry in Holmdel, NJ. | Posted: October 24th, 2014 06:10PM |
| Number of Views: 3 | Medical Center: Bayshore Community Hospital |
| Physician: Thomas Feola |
Stubbed and fractured my toe. Had x-ray 3 weeks later. $554 for 3 views of foot? Why? |
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| Posted by: Act like the customer in FIRESTONE, CO. | Posted: October 16th, 2014 09:10AM |
| Number of Views: 3 | Medical Center: First Choice Emergency Room |
This facility just opened very close to us and my son landed awkwardly on his ankle. We weren't sure if it was broken or not and I had to leave town for work the next day so we stopped in. The care was good but prices after we got the bill were outrageous. 3x normal costs for crutches & air cast and much higher facility and x-ray costs than we have ever paid at a hospital ER. If we had known this up front we would have waited to go to urgent care the next day or gone to a hospital ER.
We have a high deductible HSA plan so this ended up being all out of pocket for us. Total costs for the sprained ankle visit (~15 min with a doctor and not even ibuprofen given) ended up being over $2000. The lesson here is to ask up front what the costs are and don't blindly take everything they give you. We also paid $150 for a $25 set of crutches and over $200 for a $75 air cast. |
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| Posted by: Living is costing me to Death in Kansas City, MO. | Posted: September 12th, 2014 01:09PM |
| Number of Views: 1 | Medical Center: Arrowhead Sports Complex |
| Physician: Dr. David Smith |
New patient office visit $93
Took 2 xrays of my hip $493
Insurance company noted Charge Exceeds Defined Pay amount on the Xray. Ins Co. noted Charge Exceeds the contractual allowance per the contract. Ins. Co. also noted Charge exceeds the discounted percentage of the allowed amount.
Needless to say I won't be returning to this office or this doctor. |
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| Posted by: Budde in Booneville, MS. | Posted: February 16th, 2013 04:02AM |
| Number of Views: | Medical Center: Baptist |
Experience was good until the bills came in that were over double the average charges in the area |
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External Resources: | - www.newchoicehealth.com/X-Ray-Cost
- www.bergerhealth.com/resources-a-links/patient-price-list
- www.radiologyinfo.org/en/careers/index.cfm?pg=diagcareer
- findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
- www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search
- www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray#part6
- www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray
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