Understanding X-Ray Costs in Colorado
Colorado presents a complex healthcare pricing landscape, with X-ray costs varying significantly between the Denver metropolitan area, resort communities like Aspen and Vail, mid-sized cities like Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, and rural communities throughout the state. Understanding these regional price differences can help you make informed decisions and potentially save hundreds of dollars on your medical expenses.
This comprehensive guide explores X-ray pricing throughout Colorado, highlighting average costs, price ranges, affordable providers, and strategies to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses while still receiving quality care.
How much does an X-ray cost in Colorado?
Without insurance, a single X-ray exam in Colorado typically costs about $72–$390, depending on the body part and where you go. Independent imaging centers sit at the low end; hospital outpatient departments and emergency rooms sit at the high end because they add facility fees. Upfront cash prices listed on MDsave for Colorado facilities ran from $72 to $244 when we checked on October 12, 2026. For reference, Medicare's 2026 national payment for a 2-view chest X-ray (CPT 71046) is about $33.
How Colorado X-Ray Costs Compare Nationally
With an average X-ray cost of $160, Colorado exceeds the national average of $151 by approximately 6%. This positions Colorado as a moderately expensive state for X-ray services compared to the national baseline. However, this statewide average masks significant variations between the Front Range urban corridor, mountain resort communities (which have some of the highest healthcare costs in the nation), and rural eastern and western areas of the state.
Colorado vs. National and Neighboring States
Chart values are XRayCost.com estimates of the average self-pay price for a basic X-ray, not survey data. Use the verified listings below for real prices.
Lowest Verified X-Ray Cash Prices in Colorado (2026)
The prices below are upfront cash prices listed on MDsave for a basic X-ray of one body part (facility and radiologist fees bundled), checked on October 12, 2026. They require a doctor's order and can change, so confirm before you book. Clinics shown with sliding-scale fees are community health centers that charge based on income.
Where X-Rays Cost the Most in Colorado
We don't publish per-hospital X-ray prices we can't verify from a public source. In general, the highest X-ray bills in Colorado come from these settings:
The cash-price listings we checked show the same pattern. Colorado listings ran from $72 (BoulderCenter for Orthopedics & Spine) and $76–$87 (SimonMed Imaging in the Denver area) to $114 at Boulder-area hospital imaging sites such as Imaging at Foothills Hospital, with one outlier at $244 (Nadora Healthcare, Johnstown).
Factors Affecting X-Ray Costs in Colorado
Several key factors influence the price variations seen across Colorado's healthcare facilities:
Geographic Location
Colorado's mountain resort areas like Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge have some of the highest healthcare costs in the nation, with prices often 50-100% higher than the state average. The Denver metropolitan area tends to have moderately high prices, while smaller cities like Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Pueblo generally have more moderate pricing. Rural communities in eastern and western Colorado often have lower average prices but fewer provider options.
Facility Type
Academic medical centers and large hospital systems generally charge the highest prices for X-ray services. Independent imaging centers, community health centers, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) typically offer the most competitive rates. Hospital-based X-rays can cost 2-4 times more than those at freestanding imaging centers.
Provider Network
Colorado's healthcare market features several large health systems with their own pricing structures. Facilities affiliated with major networks like UCHealth, Centura Health, SCL Health, and HealthONE often have standardized pricing that may differ significantly from independent providers.
Regional Healthcare Economics
Colorado's unique geographic and demographic profile creates distinct healthcare markets with different economic dynamics. Areas with high costs of living and large tourist populations (like resort communities) sustain higher healthcare prices, while the state's rural and agricultural regions typically have more moderate pricing.
How to Save Money on X-Rays in Colorado
You can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for X-rays in Colorado by employing these strategies:
Compare Prices Across Multiple Facilities
Given the wide price range ($72 to $325), shopping around can result in substantial savings. Colorado's diverse healthcare market means that facilities within the same geographic area may offer dramatically different prices for identical X-ray services.
Consider Independent Imaging Centers
Colorado has numerous standalone imaging centers that specialize in diagnostic imaging at competitive prices. These facilities typically offer prices 40-60% lower than hospital-based radiology departments with comparable quality and often provide same-day or next-day appointments.
Explore Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Colorado has over 20 FQHCs with multiple locations that provide imaging services at reduced rates based on income. These centers offer sliding scale fees for patients without insurance or with high deductibles, with locations throughout the state, including underserved urban and rural areas.
Ask About Cash Pay Discounts
Many Colorado facilities offer significant discounts (often 20-50%) for patients who pay at the time of service rather than being billed. Some imaging centers specifically advertise competitive cash rates for self-pay patients.
Check With Your Insurance
If you have insurance, verify which facilities are in-network and what your expected out-of-pocket cost will be. Colorado's major insurers like Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and United Healthcare have different network configurations that can significantly impact your costs.
Common X-Ray Types and Costs in Colorado
Prices vary not only by facility but also by the type of X-ray needed. Here are typical price ranges for common X-ray procedures in Colorado:
| X-Ray Type | Average Cost in Colorado | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Chest X-Ray (2 views) | $210 | $90 - $390 |
| Extremity X-Ray (arm, leg) | $190 | $85 - $360 |
| Spine X-Ray | $295 | $140 - $480 |
| Abdominal X-Ray | $330 | $160 - $530 |
| Dental X-Ray (single) | $28 | $18 - $50 |
| Dental X-Ray (full mouth) | $155 | $90 - $275 |
Table ranges are XRayCost.com estimates of total self-pay prices (facility plus radiologist fee). Hospital and ER bills can run higher; independent imaging centers and the cash-price listings above can run lower.
What Medicare Pays for an X-Ray in 2026
Medicare's fee schedule is a useful benchmark for what an X-ray is actually worth. Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (conversion factor $33.4009), the national payment for the complete exam — taking the images plus the radiologist's interpretation — is:
| X-Ray Exam | CPT Code | Medicare 2026 National Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | CPT 71046 | $33 |
| Hand X-ray, 3+ views | CPT 73130 | $38 |
| Ankle X-ray, 3+ views | CPT 73610 | $37 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views | CPT 73562 | $42 |
| Lower back (lumbar) X-ray, 2–3 views | CPT 72100 | $40 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view | CPT 74018 | $30 |
Actual Medicare amounts in Colorado are adjusted up or down for local costs. With Original Medicare you pay 20% of the approved amount after the 2026 Part B deductible of $283. When the X-ray is done in a hospital outpatient department, Medicare also pays the hospital a separate facility fee, so your 20% share is higher there than at an independent imaging center or doctor's office.
Insurance Coverage for X-Rays in Colorado
Most health plans in Colorado cover medically necessary X-rays. What you actually pay depends on:
- Deductible: Until you meet it, you usually pay your plan's full negotiated rate for the X-ray.
- Copay or coinsurance: After the deductible, many plans charge a flat copay or a percentage (often 10–30%) of the negotiated rate.
- Network and setting: In-network independent imaging centers are usually cheapest; hospital outpatient and ER X-rays often cost more even in network.
- High-deductible plans: If you have an HSA-eligible plan and haven't met your deductible, compare your plan's negotiated rate with cash prices before you book.
Colorado expanded Medicaid. Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, covers medically necessary X-rays for enrollees.
Connect for Health Colorado is the state's marketplace; insurers include Anthem, Kaiser Permanente and Rocky Mountain Health Plans.
Colorado's Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) runs Shop for Care, a free tool that compares estimated prices at Colorado facilities using the state's all-payer claims database.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – Physician Fee Schedule, CY 2026
- FastRVU – 2026 national Medicare payment amounts for CPT 71046, 73130, 73610, 73562, 72100 and 74018
- Medicare.gov – Medicare costs (2026 Part B deductible)
- MDsave – X-ray prices in Colorado (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CMS – Hospital Price Transparency
- CMS – No Surprises Act and Good Faith Estimates
- FAIR Health Consumer – medical cost lookup
- KFF – Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions
- Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) – Shop for Care
- Salud Family Health clinic service listings (Solv), showing X-ray services
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on XRayCost.com is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medical procedure. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About X-Ray Costs in Colorado
Most self-pay patients in Colorado pay roughly $72–$390 for a single X-ray exam, depending on the body part, the number of views and the facility. On MDsave, upfront cash prices for a basic X-ray at Colorado facilities ranged from $72 to $244 when we checked in October 2026. Hospital outpatient departments and emergency rooms generally charge more because they add facility fees. Always ask whether a quote includes the radiologist's reading fee, which is sometimes billed separately.
The lowest upfront prices we could verify in Colorado were on MDsave: BoulderCenter for Orthopedics & Spine ($72, Boulder & Broomfield, CO); SimonMed Imaging ($76–$87, Parker, Aurora, Denver, Littleton); Imaging at Foothills Hospital ($114, Boulder, CO). Prices were checked in October 2026 and require a doctor's order. Independent imaging centers are generally cheaper than hospital radiology departments. If money is tight, federally qualified health centers charge sliding-scale fees based on income (some have X-ray on site, others refer out), and nonprofit hospitals must have a financial-assistance policy you can apply under.
We estimate a standard 2-view chest X-ray (CPT 71046) in Colorado at about $210 on average for self-pay patients, with a typical range of $90–$390. Independent imaging centers tend to sit at the low end and hospital outpatient departments and ERs at the high end. For comparison, Medicare's 2026 national payment for the same exam is about $33. With Original Medicare you pay 20% of the approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible.
Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, national payments for common X-rays are about $33 for a 2-view chest X-ray (71046), $38 for a hand X-ray (73130), $37 for an ankle X-ray (73610), $42 for a 3-view knee X-ray (73562), $40 for a lower-back X-ray (72100) and $30 for a 1-view abdominal X-ray (74018). Amounts in Colorado are adjusted for local costs. You pay 20% of the approved amount after the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, and hospital outpatient X-rays also carry a separate facility payment.
Colorado expanded Medicaid. Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, covers medically necessary X-rays for enrollees. Cash-price marketplaces such as MDsave do not accept Medicaid patients, so enrollees should use a facility in their plan's network.
Usually, yes. Urgent care clinics bill an office-level visit plus the X-ray, while a hospital emergency department adds an ER facility fee that can cost far more than the X-ray itself. For a non-life-threatening injury such as a possible sprain or simple fracture, an urgent care clinic with on-site X-ray is typically the cheaper choice. For serious trauma, chest pain or trouble breathing, go to the ER. Some hospital-owned urgent care sites bill like hospital outpatient departments, so ask before you are seen.
Ask your doctor for the CPT code on your order (for example, 71046 for a 2-view chest X-ray), then call two or three facilities and ask for the total price including the radiologist's fee. If you have insurance, your insurer can tell you the in-network rate and your share. Hospitals must post their standard charges, including discounted cash prices, under the federal hospital price transparency rule. If you are uninsured or paying yourself, providers must give you a Good Faith Estimate for scheduled services under the No Surprises Act, and you can dispute a bill that comes in at least $400 above it. FAIR Health Consumer shows typical local prices, and MDsave shows upfront prices where participating providers exist. Colorado residents can also use CIVHC's Shop for Care tool, which compares estimated prices at Colorado facilities.
The same X-ray can be billed very differently depending on where it is done. Hospitals add facility fees and set prices through insurer contracts, while independent imaging centers compete on cash price. The cash-price listings we checked show this. Colorado listings ran from $72 (BoulderCenter for Orthopedics & Spine) and $76–$87 (SimonMed Imaging in the Denver area) to $114 at Boulder-area hospital imaging sites such as Imaging at Foothills Hospital, with one outlier at $244 (Nadora Healthcare, Johnstown). The number of views, whether the radiologist bills separately, local competition and your insurance network also change what you pay.