Price range near Norfolk

$2,786 to $3,434
1.2x price range Virginia avg: $3,721

Chesapeake General Hospital (3★) has the lowest price — $647 less than the most expensive option nearby.

Hospital prices near Norfolk

1
Chesapeake General Hospital Local government · 5.7 mi
$2,786 cash price
3★ 67.0% satisfied Safety penalty
2
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 17.0 mi
$3,434 cash price
4★ 78.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+23% vs lowest Compare
3
Sentara Leigh Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi
$3,434 cash price
4★ 76.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+23% vs lowest Compare
4
Sentara Obici Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 0.2 mi
$3,434 cash price
4★ 73.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+23% vs lowest Compare
5
Sentara Careplex Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 12.8 mi
$3,434 cash price
4★ 73.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+23% vs lowest Compare
6
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 17.0 mi
$3,434 cash price
4★ 71.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+23% vs lowest Compare

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Before you schedule

Best value Chesapeake General Hospital — $2,786 3★ CMS rating
You could save $647 by choosing the lowest-priced facility
Virginia average $3,721 — 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

If you're paying cash for a knee MRI in Norfolk, you could save roughly $1,400 depending on which hospital you choose — the range runs from about $2,800 to $4,150. Sentara Leigh Hospital and Sentara Norfolk General are both pricing this scan at the median of $3,434, which is slightly below the Virginia state average. That middle-ground pricing gives you a solid reference point: if another facility quotes significantly higher, you know there's room to negotiate or shop elsewhere.

Before you schedule, call the billing department at your preferred hospital and confirm they can do the scan as a self-pay patient at their posted cash price — some facilities require insurance verification first. Ask whether that price includes the radiologist's report; occasionally that's billed separately. If cost is tight, ask the billing team whether the hospital has financial assistance for uninsured or underinsured patients, since some do offer it even when you're paying out of pocket.

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 Knee with and 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 Knee with and without Contrast costs $2,786 at Chesapeake General Hospital (3-star CMS rating) and up to $3,434 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia — a 1.2x difference for the same procedure across 6 facilities. The Virginia statewide average is $3,721.

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 8% below average

Sentara Health's price of $3,434 is below the Virginia average of $3,721.

Nearest alternative Mary Washington Hospital — $2,147

Fredericksburg, VA · 79 mi away · Mary Washington Healthcare · 2★

Insurance rates at Sentara Health $335 to $3,323

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

What else you should know

11% of insurance rates exceed the cash price 7 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 $3,434, 4.0★ (5 hospitals). Other: avg $2,786, 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 $2,786 $4,644 3/5 67.0% Local government 5.7 mi
Sentara Princess Anne HospitalSentara Health $3,434 $6,867 4/5 78.0% Nonprofit 17.0 mi
Sentara Leigh HospitalSentara Health $3,434 $6,867 4/5 76.0% Nonprofit 0.0 mi
Sentara Obici HospitalSentara Health $3,434 $6,867 4/5 73.0% Nonprofit 0.2 mi
Sentara Careplex HospitalSentara Health $3,434 $6,867 4/5 73.0% Nonprofit 12.8 mi
Sentara Virginia Beach General HospitalSentara Health $3,434 $6,867 4/5 71.0% Nonprofit 17.0 mi

Common questions

How much does MRI Knee with and without Contrast cost in Norfolk, VA?

MRI Knee with and without Contrast costs between $2,786 and $3,434 at 6 facilities near Norfolk, Virginia. The median price is $3,434. The Virginia statewide average is $3,721.

Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Knee with and without Contrast near Norfolk?

Chesapeake General Hospital has the lowest published cash price at $2,786. 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 Knee with and without Contrast near Norfolk is $647 — the difference between Chesapeake General Hospital ($2,786) and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital ($3,434).

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