Price range near Norfolk

$1,326 to $2,000
1.5x price range Virginia avg: $2,840

Chesapeake General Hospital (3★) has the lowest price — $673 less than the most expensive option nearby.

Hospital prices near Norfolk

1
Chesapeake General Hospital Local government · 5.7 mi
$1,326 cash price
3★ 67.0% satisfied Safety penalty
2
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 17.0 mi
$2,000 cash price
4★ 78.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+51% vs lowest Compare
3
Sentara Leigh Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi
$2,000 cash price
4★ 76.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+51% vs lowest Compare
4
Sentara Obici Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 0.2 mi
$2,000 cash price
4★ 73.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+51% vs lowest Compare
5
Sentara Careplex Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 12.8 mi
$2,000 cash price
4★ 73.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+51% vs lowest Compare
6
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 17.0 mi
$2,000 cash price
4★ 71.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+51% vs lowest Compare

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Before you schedule

Best value Chesapeake General Hospital — $1,326 3★ CMS rating
You could save $674 by choosing the lowest-priced facility
Virginia average $2,840 — prices near Norfolk are below average
Call billing before you schedule Ask: "What is the cash price for this procedure?" — if you haven't met your deductible, it may be hundreds less than going through insurance
Expect a separate bill These are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, or anesthesiologist bills separately — ask about those costs too

You're looking at a significant price spread for this MRI in Norfolk—the same scan ranges from about $1,300 to $4,700 depending on where you go, with most facilities charging around $2,000. That $3,400 difference between the cheapest and most expensive option could matter a lot to your out-of-pocket cost, especially if you're uninsured or have a high deductible. Sentara Leigh Hospital and Sentara Norfolk General both offer the scan at $2,000, right at the local median, which gives you a straightforward price point to use as your benchmark.

Before you book, call the billing department at whichever hospital your doctor recommended and ask for their cash price for a cervical spine MRI without contrast—confirm it matches what you see here, since prices can shift. If cost is your main concern and you have flexibility on location, you might call the facility with the $1,326 price to understand what's driving that lower cost (sometimes it's a newer machine, sometimes just different overhead). Ask about financial assistance too; nonprofits often have programs for patients who qualify based on income.

Questions to ask when you call

Before scheduling, call the hospital's billing department. These are the exact questions that get you the answers you need.

1

"What is your cash price for MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast?"

If you haven't met your deductible, the cash price may be lower than what your insurance negotiates. Many hospitals will honor their published cash price if you ask.

2

"What will my insurance plan pay for this, and what's my out-of-pocket?"

Get a written estimate. Ask them to include your deductible status and coinsurance percentage. This is called a "Good Faith Estimate" and you're legally entitled to one.

3

"Are there any other charges I should expect — radiologist, anesthesiologist, or facility fees?"

These prices are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, and anesthesiologist bill separately. Ask how much those could add.

MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast costs $1,326 at Chesapeake General Hospital (3-star CMS rating) and up to $2,000 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia — a 1.5x difference for the same procedure across 6 facilities. The Virginia statewide average is $2,840.

About this market

Sentara Health operates 5 of 6 hospitals near Norfolk (83%). Prices across their facilities are identical — comparison between them won't save you money.

vs Virginia average 30% below average

Sentara Health's price of $2,000 is below the Virginia average of $2,840.

Nearest alternative Chesapeake General Hospital — $1,326

Chesapeake, VA · 6 mi away · 3★

Insurance rates at Sentara Health $141 to $2,487

7 insurance plans. Cheapest: Aetna. Most expensive: Sentara Health Plans.

What else you should know

8% of insurance rates exceed the cash price 5 of 62 negotiated rates at these hospitals cost more than paying cash. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate. Learn more
Ownership affects price Nonprofit: avg $2,000, 4.0★ (5 hospitals). Other: avg $1,326, 3.0★ (1 hospitals)

Children's hospitals

The following children's hospitals are listed separately because their pricing, patient mix, and quality benchmarks differ from adult facilities.

Surgery center alternatives

These ambulatory surgery centers are near Norfolk. ASCs often perform outpatient procedures at lower cost than hospitals.

Virginia Center for Eye Surgery 0.2 mi
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Chesapeake Regional Surgery Center at Virginia Beach 0.2 mi
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Center for Visual Surgical Excellence LLC 0.2 mi
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Surgery Center of Chesapeake LLC 0.2 mi
Chesapeake, VA 23320
Virginia Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center 0.2 mi
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Bayview Medical Center INC 0.2 mi
Suffolk, VA 23434
96% satisfied 563 cases/yr
View full data table
FacilityCash PriceGross ChargeStarsPatient RatingOwnershipDistance
Chesapeake General Hospital $1,326 $2,210 3/5 67.0% Local government 5.7 mi
Sentara Princess Anne HospitalSentara Health $2,000 $4,000 4/5 78.0% Nonprofit 17.0 mi
Sentara Leigh HospitalSentara Health $2,000 $4,000 4/5 76.0% Nonprofit 0.0 mi
Sentara Obici HospitalSentara Health $2,000 $4,000 4/5 73.0% Nonprofit 0.2 mi
Sentara Careplex HospitalSentara Health $2,000 $4,000 4/5 73.0% Nonprofit 12.8 mi
Sentara Virginia Beach General HospitalSentara Health $2,000 $4,000 4/5 71.0% Nonprofit 17.0 mi

Common questions

How much does MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast cost in Norfolk, VA?

MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast costs between $1,326 and $2,000 at 6 facilities near Norfolk, Virginia. The median price is $2,000. The Virginia statewide average is $2,840.

Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast near Norfolk?

Chesapeake General Hospital has the lowest published cash price at $1,326. It has a 3-star CMS quality rating and 67.0% patient satisfaction.

Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?

No. In Norfolk, the lowest-priced facility (Chesapeake General Hospital) has a 3-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility (Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital) has a 4-star rating.

Where does this pricing data come from?

All prices are from each hospital's federally mandated machine-readable file under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule (45 CFR Part 180). Quality ratings are from CMS Hospital Compare. We do not estimate prices. See full methodology →

How much can I save by choosing a different hospital?

The maximum savings for MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast near Norfolk is $674 — the difference between Chesapeake General Hospital ($1,326) and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital ($2,000).

Data compiled from 17 federal sources including CMS Hospital Price Transparency files, Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports. Updated April 2026. Full methodology →