CMS Price Transparency Data

MRI, brain (no contrast)

Facility: Kossuth Regional Health Center

Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price low confidence

A fair price for this

$723

about 3.0× the $244 Medicare rate · typically $207–$1,952

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$1,824

Well above the fair price

about $1,101 over the fair price · 7.5× Medicare

Medicare pays $244 Fair price $723 This hospital $1,824 Cash price $2,569 Hospital's list price $3,211

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other IA hospitals

Highest price of the 9 IA hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $65 Priciest $1,824

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 IA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a MRI, brain (no contrast) is about $723 (about 3.0× the $244 Medicare rate). Kossuth Regional Health Center charges insurers about $1,824, or about $2,569 in cash — well above the fair price. Located in Algona, IA.

This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less

Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $723. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

4 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Humana CignaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$1,257 - $2,437	516%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$311 - $341	128%
Aetnamajor	$2,986 - $3,115	1225%
Humanamajor	$1,232	505%
Amerigroup	$1,245 - $3,339	511%
HealthPartners	$2,248 - $3,115	922%
Molina	$3,307	1357%
+ 2 smaller / regional plans	$1,220 - $2,729

Government programs also on file: Military & VA.

Excludes 3 rental-network / third-party entries (e.g. Multiplan, PHCS) — these are pricing networks, not insurers.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price (about 2,569), before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 70551.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Kossuth Regional Health Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 70551.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Kossuth Regional Health Center

Compare: MRI, brain (no contrast) at other IA hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.