MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Menorah Medical Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,100
- Cash Discount Price: $13,017
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.51x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $243.77 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 451% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 351%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amerigroup | $131 | 54% |
| United | $131 - $5,858 | 54% |
| Healthyblue | $134 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 55% |
| Aetna | $136 - $6,639 | 56% |
| Unicare | $136 | 56% |
| Multiplan | $205 - $9,633 | 84% |
| Home State Health Plan | $216 | 89% |
| Corvel Corporation | $243 - $8,461 | 100% |
| Oha Network | $254 - $6,508 | 104% |
| Cigna | $272 - $10,414 | 112% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $716 - $5,858 | 294% |
| Humana | $803 - $1,037 | 329% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,421 | 993% |
| Nhc Advantage | $2,473 | 1014% |
| Wppa Providrs Care Network | $2,603 | 1068% |
| Universal Healthcare | $4,556 | 1869% |
| Coventry | $5,233 | 2147% |
| Coventry Kc Mo | $5,337 | 2189% |
| College Park Family Care Center | $5,597 | 2296% |
| Focus Healthcare Mgmt, Inc | $9,763 | 4005% |
| Cco, Inc. | $9,763 | 4005% |
| Triwest Health Alliance | $9,763 | 4005% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For patients at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS, the cash price for an MRI of the brain without contrast is $13,017, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by a 4.5x markup compared to Medicare reimbursement rates of $243.77. While commercial insurance contracts often result in negotiated rates that can exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and multi-layered billing structures, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount is higher than $13,017. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full upfront.
Although this procedure is billed under CPT code 70551, patients should be aware that balance billing can still occur if they receive care from out-of-network providers or ancillary services like emergency physicians or labs, even at an in-network facility. Under the No Surprises Act, balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network hospitals is generally prohibited, but patients should verify their network status and request a formal itemized audit if they receive unexpected charges. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, patients should demand a detailed line-by-line statement before agreeing to any payment plan. If a summary bill is presented, patients should refuse to pay until they receive the full CPT-coded breakdown to ensure no double-billing or unnecessary fees are included.