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For patients & families

The same care, a very different price

Your insurance plan has agreed a different price with every provider. Until you meet your deductible, that's the price you pay. Comparing before you book can save hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on the same scan, test or procedure.

Notify meHow it works

The price lookup will be free. Coming soon.

One knee MRI, three places, three prices

Example

Illustrative example: on the same insurance plan, a knee MRI costs $480 at an independent imaging center, $1,250 at a hospital-owned imaging center and $2,600 at a hospital outpatient department. With $3,000 of your deductible left, you would pay the full price, so choosing the imaging center saves $2,120.

Illustrative example, not real prices.

Why prices differ so much

Every price is the result of a separate negotiation between your insurer and a provider, so neighbouring providers can be paid very differently for exactly the same service. Where the care happens matters too: hospital departments often add a facility fee that an independent imaging center or surgery center doesn't.

If you have a high-deductible plan, or simply haven't met your deductible yet this year, you pay the negotiated price in full. That's why the same MRI can cost you $480 or $2,600.

Why comparing prices matters

The same service can cost many times more depending on who provides it and where. These figures come from published research and federal rules.

difference in price for the same service within a single metro area
Up to 40×
Source: Health Care Cost Institute, Past the Healthy Marketplace Index
negotiated rate for an outpatient colonoscopy in the Chicago area, depending on where it was done
$562 – $9,691
Source: Trilliant Health, 2025 price transparency report
median colonoscopy price at an ambulatory surgery center than at a hospital outpatient department
67.5% lower
Source: Trilliant Health, 2025 price transparency report
health insurers and plans have had to publish the rates they negotiate with providers
Since July 2022
Source: CMS, Transparency in Coverage final rule fact sheet

When comparing pays off

Questions the price lookup will answer

  • What will my MRI cost at each imaging center near me, on my plan?
  • Is a surgery center cheaper than the hospital for my colonoscopy?
  • Should I use my insurance or pay cash?
  • Roughly how much will I owe if I haven't met my deductible?

What's coming

  • Price lookup

    Coming soon

    Free, for patients and the public

    Search a procedure, pick your insurance plan or cash, and compare prices at providers near you.

How it will work

  1. 1

    Find the procedure

    Ask your doctor's office for the name of the procedure, or its CPT code, if you can.

  2. 2

    Check your plan

    Make sure the providers you're comparing are in network, and check how much of your deductible is left.

  3. 3

    Compare the total

    Compare prices across nearby providers, and ask whether there are separate fees, such as a facility or anesthesia fee.

Questions

Is comparing prices worth it if I have insurance?

Often, yes. Until you meet your deductible you pay the negotiated price, and after that coinsurance is usually a percentage of it, so a lower price means a lower bill either way.

Does a lower price mean lower quality?

Not necessarily. Much of the difference in price comes from negotiation and the setting of care rather than the care itself. Check that a provider is in network and right for your needs, then compare.

Is the price I see what I'll pay?

Not exactly. Prices are published rates, not a quote. What you pay depends on your deductible, coinsurance and any separate fees, so confirm with your plan and the provider before you book.

When can I use the price lookup?

It's coming soon, and it will be free. Join the list and we'll tell you when prices for your area are live.

New to price transparency? Start with what machine-readable files are or why the same procedure can cost five times more across town.

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The price lookup will be free. Leave your email and we'll tell you when your area goes live.

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Opens an email to hello@ushealth.io. No pricing yet; we’ll be in touch.

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