Brain MRI cost in Forest City, NC
In Forest City, NC, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye: from $1,876.99 to $1,876.99, with a median of $1,876.99. Across North Carolina, the median is $2,271.20 at 57 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 70551, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center Rutherfordton, NC · (828) 286-5000 Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, brain (including brain stem); without contrast material | $1,876.99 | $4,692.48 | $819.55 | 60% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $1,876.99, median $1,876.99, highest $1,876.99.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is not below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
An MRI of the brain uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of the brain and brain stem. It is used to look into headaches, seizures, dizziness, numbness or other nerve symptoms. This version is done without contrast dye.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan itself. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately, and sedation, if needed, is extra.