X-Ray Cost in Argentina
What you actually pay in public hospitals, with an obra social, prepaga or PAMI, privately — and the new rules for non-resident foreigners. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Argentina?
For citizens and permanent residents, an X-ray in a public hospital is free, and obras sociales, prepagas and PAMI cover it under the Programa Médico Obligatorio, sometimes with a small co-pay. As a concrete reference, the Mendoza obra social OSEP values a single X-ray film at ARS 9,500 (about $6) — including a ARS 4,500 member co-pay — and each additional exposure at ARS 6,150, so a two-view chest X-ray comes to about ARS 15,650 (≈ $10). Private self-pay prices in Buenos Aires are usually higher and vary by centre. Non-resident foreigners now pay for non-emergency care at national hospitals.
Quick Overview
Argentina's health system has three layers. The public sector — national, provincial and municipal hospitals — is free for residents. Formal-sector employees belong to an obra social (union or sector-based insurer), retirees to PAMI, and many middle-class families add or substitute a private prepaga such as OSDE, Swiss Medical or Galeno. All obras sociales and prepagas must cover the Programa Médico Obligatorio (PMO), which includes X-rays. Prices are set in pesos and change often; insurer tariffs (nomencladores) are the most reliable published reference. A May 2025 decree (DNU 366/2025) amended the Migration Law, and since August 2026 national hospitals charge foreigners without permanent residence for non-emergency care.
🏥 Public hospital
- Citizens and permanent residents
- Emergency X-rays same day at the guardia
- Non-urgent studies may involve queues
- Non-residents: charged at national and some provincial hospitals
🛡️ Obra social / prepaga / PAMI
- PMO requires imaging coverage
- Example: OSEP Mendoza co-pay ARS 4,500 per X-ray study
- Many prepaga plans have no co-pay for X-rays
- Doctor's order and network provider needed
💳 Private self-pay
- Diagnostic centres quote "particular" prices on request
- Usually above insurer tariffs
- Large differences between centres — compare
- Ask whether the radiologist's report is included
X-Ray Values in Argentina by Exam
Few private centres publish self-pay prices, so the table uses the most recent published insurer tariff we could verify: OSEP Mendoza (the provincial public employees' obra social), valid from July 2025 for Greater Mendoza. The total is what the provider receives per study; the co-pay is what the member pays. Most X-rays need two views, i.e. the first exposure plus one subsequent exposure.
| Exam | Public hospital (residents) | Obra social value: total (member co-pay) | USD (≈ total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray, 1 view | Free | ARS 9,500 (4,500) | $6 |
| Chest X-ray, front + lateral | Free | ARS 15,650 (9,000) | $10 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray, 2 views | Free | ARS 15,650 (9,000) | $10 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray, 2 views | Free | ARS 15,650 (9,000) | $10 |
| Knee X-ray, 2 views | Free | ARS 15,650 (9,000) | $10 |
| Cervical or lumbar spine, 2 views | Free | ARS 15,650 (9,000) | $10 |
| Full-spine X-ray (espinograma), per view | Free | ARS 25,500 (9,500) | $17 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray, 1 view | Free | ARS 9,500 (4,500) | $6 |
| Plain abdomen X-ray, 1 view | Free | ARS 9,500 (4,500) | $6 |
| Dental panoramic (orthopantomography) | Free where offered | ARS 9,500 (OSEP); ARS 28,000 (Prevención Salud dental fee, June 2026) | $6–18 |
| Ultrasound (most types) | Free | ARS 22,000 (10,000) | $15 |
| Complete abdominal ultrasound | Free | ARS 24,500 (10,000) | $16 |
| CT / MRI | Free (waiting list) | Covered by PMO with authorisation; private price on quote | — |
OSEP Mendoza Resolution HD 2025-879 (approved 20 August 2025, effective July 2025): first X-ray exposure ARS 5,000 paid by OSEP + ARS 4,500 co-pay = ARS 9,500; each subsequent exposure ARS 1,650 + ARS 4,500 = ARS 6,150; full-spine view ARS 25,500; ultrasound ARS 22,000–24,500 with ARS 10,000 co-pay. Two-view totals add the first and one subsequent exposure. Dental fee from FOPBA circular no. 69 (28 May 2026) for Prevención Salud. These are insurer tariffs in one province, not private self-pay prices, which are usually higher; peso values change frequently. USD at approximately ARS 1,516 = $1 (October 2026).
How X-Rays Are Covered in Argentina
Public system
- National, provincial and municipal hospitals and health centres (CAPS)
- Free for citizens and permanent residents
- Hospitals can bill your obra social or prepaga
- Emergencies are always attended
Obras sociales, prepagas and PAMI
- PMO (Programa Médico Obligatorio) guarantees diagnostic imaging
- Supervised by the Superintendencia de Servicios de Salud
- Each insurer sets its own nomenclador and co-pays
- PAMI covers retirees and pensioners at contracted providers
- Provincial obras sociales (e.g. OSEP, IOMA) for provincial staff
Foreigners without permanent residence
- DNU 366/2025 (May 2025) amended the Migration Law
- Resolution 1066/2026: national hospitals charge from 12 August 2026
- Fee per each hospital's nomenclador, paid in advance, or billed to insurance
- Emergencies with imminent risk to life exempt
- Salta, Jujuy, Mendoza, Santa Cruz and Buenos Aires City already charged
Where to Get an X-Ray in Argentina
🏥 Public Hospitals
- Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín (UBA) — Buenos Aires
- Hospital Fernández and Hospital Argerich — Buenos Aires City
- Hospital Nacional Posadas — El Palomar (national)
- Hospital Garrahan — paediatrics, Buenos Aires
- Provincial hospitals and CAPS nationwide
🏥 Private Hospitals & Centres
- Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
- Hospital Alemán — Buenos Aires
- Sanatorio Güemes — Buenos Aires
- Diagnóstico Maipú — Greater Buenos Aires
- FUESMEN — Mendoza
🛡️ Main Prepagas
- OSDE
- Swiss Medical
- Galeno
- Medifé
- Sancor Salud and OMINT
Guide by Patient Type
🇦🇷 Residents
- Public hospital: free
- Obra social / prepaga: covered, possible coseguro
- PAMI: covered at contracted providers
- Bring DNI and your doctor's order
💼 Foreign residents
- Permanent residents: same access as citizens (DNI shows "residente permanente")
- Temporary residents: may be charged at national hospitals
- Employees join an obra social through work
✈️ Tourists
- Must declare health insurance on entry (DNU 366/2025)
- Emergency care still guaranteed
- Non-urgent care at national hospitals charged or billed to insurer
- Private clinics: request a quote; keep invoices
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- DNI or passport
- Orden médica (doctor's order)
- Obra social / prepaga / PAMI card and authorisation if required
- Travel insurance policy (non-residents)
⏰ Typical wait times
- Guardia (emergency): same visit
- Public hospital, scheduled: days to weeks
- Private centre with coverage: same or next day
- Report: usually within 24–72 hours
💡 How to save money
- Use your obra social or prepaga network
- Ask about the coseguro before the study
- Compare particular quotes from several centres
- Check whether digital images are included
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Argentina?
For residents, an X-ray at a public hospital is free. With an obra social or prepaga it is covered, sometimes with a co-pay (coseguro). As a reference for prices, the Mendoza public employees' obra social OSEP set the value of a single X-ray film at ARS 9,500 (about $6) from July 2025 — ARS 5,000 paid by the insurer plus a ARS 4,500 member co-pay — and ARS 6,150 for each extra exposure. Private self-pay quotes in big cities are usually higher and vary widely, so ask several centres.
¿Cuánto sale una radiografía? (How much is an X-ray?)
En hospitales públicos es gratuita para residentes. Como referencia, OSEP Mendoza fijó desde julio de 2025 un valor de $9.500 por la primera exposición (con coseguro de $4.500 a cargo del afiliado) y $6.150 por cada exposición adicional. Una placa de tórax frente y perfil ronda entonces los $15.650 en ese nomenclador. Los precios particulares en centros privados suelen ser mayores: pedí presupuesto.
Is an X-ray free in Argentine public hospitals?
Yes for Argentine citizens and permanent residents: public hospitals (national, provincial and municipal) do not charge for X-rays. If you have an obra social or prepaga, the hospital may bill your insurer, but you are not charged at the point of care.
Do foreigners have to pay at Argentine public hospitals?
Since 12 August 2026, under Health Ministry Resolution 1066/2026 implementing the May 2025 decree DNU 366/2025, national hospitals (such as Posadas, Carrillo, Bonaparte, Sommer and INAREPS) charge foreigners without permanent residence, according to each hospital's fee schedule, or bill their health insurance. Emergencies with a real and imminent risk to life are exempt. Salta, Jujuy, Mendoza, Santa Cruz and the City of Buenos Aires already charged non-resident foreigners under their own rules.
Do tourists need health insurance to visit Argentina?
DNU 366/2025 requires foreigners entering Argentina to declare that they have health insurance. Tourists should carry travel medical insurance: non-urgent care at national and several provincial hospitals is now charged to non-residents, and private clinics bill at private rates.
Does my obra social or prepaga cover X-rays?
Yes. The Programa Médico Obligatorio (PMO) requires obras sociales and prepagas such as OSDE, Swiss Medical, Galeno, Medifé and Sancor Salud to cover diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, with a doctor's order. Some plans charge a coseguro; OSEP Mendoza's was ARS 4,500 per X-ray study from July 2025. PAMI covers retirees at contracted providers.
How much is a dental panoramic X-ray in Argentina?
As a reference, the dental federation of Buenos Aires province (FOPBA) agreed fees with Prevención Salud of ARS 28,000 for a panoramic X-ray and ARS 6,500 for a periapical or bite-wing film from June 2026 (about $18 and $4). OSEP Mendoza values an orthopantomography at ARS 9,500. Private dental radiology centres set their own prices.
How much is an ultrasound, CT or MRI in Argentina?
OSEP Mendoza's July 2025 tariff puts most ultrasounds at ARS 22,000 (complete abdomen ARS 24,500, about $16), including a ARS 10,000 member co-pay. CT and MRI are covered by the PMO with authorisation from your obra social or prepaga; private self-pay prices vary widely by centre, so request a written quote.
Why are Argentine X-ray prices hard to pin down?
Prices are set in pesos and updated frequently with inflation, and each insurer negotiates its own tariff (nomenclador) with providers. Insurer tariffs and agreed fees are the most reliable public reference; private centres quote on request. Always check the date of any price you see.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación — Resolución 1066/2026 (procedure for charging foreigners without permanent residence at national facilities, from 12 August 2026)
- DNU 366/2025 (May 2025) amending the Migration Law; Chequeado explainer (August 2026)
- OSEP Mendoza — Resolución HD 2025-879: radiology, mammography and ultrasound values and co-pays from July 2025
- FOPBA (Federación Odontológica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) — Circular no. 69, 28 May 2026: Prevención Salud dental fees
- Superintendencia de Servicios de Salud — Programa Médico Obligatorio (PMO)
- Exchange rate: open.er-api.com, 12 October 2026 (≈ ARS 1,516 per US$)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Values shown are insurer tariffs and agreed fees, not private self-pay prices; peso amounts change frequently — ask the provider for a current quote.