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Brain MRA (blood vessel MRI, without contrast) at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center

3421 W. 9th St, Waterloo, IA · MercyOne · · NPI 1700827896

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Mar 31, 2026 · Ingested Aug 3, 2026

$10,540.95

Cash price

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Discounted cash price

What a hospital charges a self-pay patient who pays directly, without going through insurance — usually well below the gross charge.

Example: A CT scan has a $3,200 gross charge but an $850 discounted cash price. Ask for it by name when scheduling — hospitals don't always advertise it up front.

Full explanation →

What you pay up front if you don't use insurance.

$2,589.00

Gross charge

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Gross charge (chargemaster price)

The hospital's full, undiscounted list price — pulled from its internal "chargemaster" price list. Almost no one actually pays this.

Example: A chest X-ray has a gross charge of $1,450. The same hospital's discounted cash price for the same X-ray is $180 — the gross charge mostly anchors negotiations, not what patients pay.

Full explanation →

The hospital's undiscounted list price — almost no one pays this.

$18.00 with IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH vs $2,589.00 with UNITED HEALTHCARE — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
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Negotiated rate

The price a specific insurance plan agreed to pay the hospital for a service — it varies by insurer, and even by plan within the same insurer.

Example: The same knee MRI has a negotiated rate of $904 with one insurer's PPO plan and $1,509 with another's — identical hospital, identical scan.

Full explanation →

Payer
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Payer

The insurance company footing the bill — Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and so on.

Example: "Blue Cross Blue Shield" is the payer. Its negotiated rate for an MRI might be $904, while a different payer's negotiated rate for the same scan is $1,509.

Full explanation →
Plan
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Plan

The specific product an insurer sells — e.g. "Blue Cross PPO 500" — which sets your deductible, coinsurance and negotiated rates.

Example: Two people both insured by Aetna can owe very different amounts for the same MRI: $50 with an HMO plan's flat copay, or the full $1,200 toward a high-deductible PPO plan's unmet deductible.

Full explanation →
Negotiated rate vs. cash
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $18.00 ↓ -100%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $224.79 ↓ -98%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $224.79 ↓ -98%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $224.79 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $227.04 ↓ -98%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $228.58 ↓ -98%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $229.29 ↓ -98%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $230.82 ↓ -98%
HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE UNITYPOINT HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADV $231.67 ↓ -98%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $231.72 ↓ -98%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $233.97 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BCN DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
PRE-EMPLOYMENT WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
WC DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
KAISER DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $243.77 ↓ -98%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $305.07 ↓ -97%
OSCAR OSCAR $352.03 ↓ -97%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $380.77 ↓ -96%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $385.35 ↓ -96%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $461.05 ↓ -96%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $461.05 ↓ -96%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $525.42 ↓ -95%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $525.42 ↓ -95%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $608.42 ↓ -94%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $608.42 ↓ -94%
WEBTPA AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
COVENTRY AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
AETNA AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
MERITAIN AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
AETNA EAP AETNA $1,006.23 ↓ -90%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $1,698.38 ↓ -84%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
CIGNA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
CIGNA EAP MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,838.19 ↓ -83%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $2,407.77 ↓ -77%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $2,589.00 ↓ -75%

Visitor-reported prices

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Brain MRA (blood vessel MRI, without contrast) at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo $1,377.28 $52.25 – $907.28
UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Des Moines $3,174.75 $52.25 – $1,166.72
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $1,607.40 $231.38 – $323.93
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $5,094.05 $15.60 – $3,635.00
MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center New Hampton $2,500.55 $1,523.03 – $3,847.00
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $4,342.00 $219.72 – $3,792.00
MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein $2,500.55 $1,470.32 – $3,847.00
MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center Cedar Falls $7,785.05 $24.00 – $1,838.19

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →