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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Tests, X-Rays & Imaging > X-Ray

X-Ray Cost

How Much Does an X-Ray Cost?
 
average costWith Health Insurance: $10-$50 Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurancehigh costWithout 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

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.
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
finger e-ray
Amount: $417.00
Posted by: Unfair racket by medical community in DARIEN, IL.Posted: February 10th, 2017 10:02AM
Number of Views: 2Medical Center: Westmont Imaging
Physician: Joe Reda
1 finger for $417? Why? National average is $100. My co-pay is $157.14. Sounds like that is the actual cost and the remaining "gravy" is bilked from the insurance company. What a racket!!!!
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Wrist
Amount: $956.00
Posted by: Morgan techlow in Oshkosh, WI.Posted: January 24th, 2017 01:01PM
Physician: Affinity
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Ankle diagnostic x ray on 6 y.o.
Amount: $1,450.00
Posted by: Paokara777 in Cape Girardeau, MO.Posted: January 23rd, 2017 11:01PM
Physician: St Francis Cape Girardeau mo
They billed us 1450. My ins company negotiated down to 1100. I have a 50% co pay. 550 out of pocket for an ankle x ray. Lol?
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Tooth xray
Amount: $919.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Hackensack, NJ.Posted: January 1st, 2017 10:01AM
Physician: Hackensack medical center
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Shore Imaging
Amount: $300.00
Posted by: Go Elsewher in Howel, NJ.Posted: November 23rd, 2016 03:11PM
Number of Views: 4Medical Center: Shore Imaging
HAd to wait over 3 weeks to get results.
Employees are upset with wages and poor working conditions. Go ELSEHWERE
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Hand 3 views
Amount: $516.12
Posted by: Donna Kertis in Patchogue, NY.Posted: November 7th, 2016 08:11AM
Number of Views: 3Medical Center: Brookhaven Memorial Hospital
Physician: Dr. Angelillo
Took son to orthopedist for problems with hand after breaking his arm 4 years ago. Was told to go down the hall for x-rays but later was billed by the hospital he is affiliated with. Was charge 505.60 for xrays and 10.52 for another company to read them. Could have went to a facility across the street and paid $125 but was not given that option. This is WITH insurance.
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Back x-ray
Amount: $581.00
Posted by: Fed up with over-priced medical care in Athens, OH.Posted: November 2nd, 2016 12:11PM
Number of Views: Medical Center: Holzer
$475 X-ray (Ins. adjustment reduced it to $285)
$106 Doctor charge for reading the x-ray (Ins. adj. reduced it to 97.73)
I got two different bills.
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xray of toe
Amount: $1,000.00
Posted by: chrisNR in Moorestown, NJ.Posted: August 14th, 2015 10:08PM
Number of Views: Medical Center: Virtua Moorestown
I went into to Virtua Moorestown to get an x-ray of my toe, becasue I think I broke it. I was told the x-rays would cost at least $1,000, maybe more. Being uninsured, I opted not to get the x-ray. I have been trying not to put weight on it, so it will heel on its own. My employer is currently started to offering insurance-- the plan covers $25.00 for x-rays.
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Hip x tay
Amount: $1,056.00
Posted by: a user in Granbury, TX.Posted: July 6th, 2015 12:07PM
Physician: Granbury Texas medical center
Way over charge. Should be $280-$350
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outraged--hip and pelvis x-ray
Amount: $3,025.00
Posted by: MCB in Brandon, FL.Posted: July 6th, 2015 11:07AM
Number of Views: 3Medical Center: Brandon Regional
As an x-ray tech myself, I am outraged at the audacity of this facility to charge this amount for 3 x-rays
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Shoulder X-rays
Amount: $1,124.00
Posted by: Disgruntled in Bluffton, SC.Posted: April 17th, 2015 12:04PM
Number of Views: 2Medical Center: St. Joseph's/Candler
Had two shoulder x-rays and I was billed $1,124. When I phoned I was told that this is their billed amount. This was not an MRI! I had the same images taken in a different state and they were approximately 1/4 of this cost! This is outrageous!
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x-ray of foot
Amount: $554.00
Posted by: CLBerry in Holmdel, NJ.Posted: October 24th, 2014 06:10PM
Number of Views: 3Medical 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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expensive ankle
Amount: $617.00
Posted by: Act like the customer in FIRESTONE, CO.Posted: October 16th, 2014 09:10AM
Number of Views: 3Medical 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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X-RAY HIP UNI 2+ VW
Amount: $493.00
Posted by: Living is costing me to Death in Kansas City, MO.Posted: September 12th, 2014 01:09PM
Number of Views: 1Medical 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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CT abdomen with contrast
Amount: $5,200.00
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:
  1.  www.newchoicehealth.com/X-Ray-Cost
  2.  www.bergerhealth.com/resources-a-links/patient-price-list
  3.  www.radiologyinfo.org/en/careers/index.cfm?pg=diagcareer
  4.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
  5.  www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search
  6.  www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray#part6
  7.  www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray
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