MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $1,088
- Cash Discount Price: $2,659
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.05x 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 $356.43 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 305% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 205%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Partners | $98 - $670 | 27% |
| Trillium | $98 - $685 | 27% |
| Amerihealth Caritas | $99 - $661 | 28% |
| Carolina Complete Health | $99 - $665 | 28% |
| Healthy Blue | $99 - $665 | 28% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $99 - $2,356 | 28% |
| Vaya | $99 - $672 | 28% |
| Wellcare | $99 - $665 | 28% |
| Alliance | $100 - $678 | 28% |
| Cigna | $101 - $4,254 | 28% |
| Humana | $103 - $346 | 29% |
| Aetna | $105 - $3,244 | 29% |
| Ortho Carolina | $127 - $425 | 36% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,157 - $1,522 | 325% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,545 - $1,930 | 433% |
| Employers Health Network | $2,351 | 660% |
| Physician Reach Out | $2,659 | 746% |
| Medcost | $2,861 - $3,989 | 803% |
| Magellan | $3,191 | 895% |
| Gmmi | $3,457 | 970% |
| Quik Trip | $3,457 | 970% |
| Carolina Behavioral Health | $3,829 - $4,254 | 1074% |
| Healthgram | $4,254 | 1194% |
| Private Health Care Systems | $4,254 | 1194% |
| Choicecare | $4,361 | 1224% |
| Lifesynch Community Choice Care | $4,361 | 1224% |
| First Health | $4,520 | 1268% |
| Beechstreet | $4,786 | 1343% |
| Multiplan | $5,052 | 1417% |