A DEXA scan typically costs more than $300 without insurance, though the price varies widely depending on where you live and where you get it done. With Medicare or private insurance coverage, you may pay nothing out of pocket or just a small copay. The gap between the best and worst price for the same scan can be substantial, so it’s worth understanding what drives the cost before you book.
Average Cost Without Insurance
If you’re paying cash, expect to pay somewhere in the range of $100 to $400 or more, with the national average landing above $300. That price covers the scan itself plus the radiologist’s interpretation of your results. The variation comes down to three main factors: what type of facility you choose, where you live, and whether you negotiate or prepay.
Hospital outpatient departments are almost always the most expensive option. They bill a facility fee and a separate professional fee, which together push the total higher. Independent imaging centers and some primary care offices with their own DEXA machines tend to charge less because they bundle everything into a single bill. If cost is your main concern, calling a freestanding imaging center for a quote is a good starting point.
Geography matters too. A scan in a major metro area with high overhead will cost more than the same scan in a smaller city. Prices can differ by hundreds of dollars within the same region, so comparing a few facilities by phone is one of the simplest ways to save.
What Medicare Pays
Medicare covers bone density scans once every 24 months for people who meet specific criteria. The qualifying conditions include:
- Estrogen deficiency with risk factors for osteoporosis (as determined by your doctor)
- X-ray findings that suggest osteoporosis, osteopenia, or vertebral fractures
- Current or planned use of steroid-type medications like prednisone
- A diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism
- Monitoring to check whether osteoporosis treatment is working
If you qualify, Medicare classifies the DEXA scan as a preventive service, which means your out-of-pocket cost is typically $0. The Medicare-approved amount for a DEXA scan at an ambulatory surgical center is about $68 total, while the same scan at a hospital outpatient department runs about $145. Medicare absorbs both figures for covered preventive screenings, so you pay nothing as long as you’ve met your Part B deductible and you fall within the eligible categories.
If your scan is more frequent than every 24 months, Medicare can still cover it when your doctor documents that it’s medically necessary. Otherwise, standard cost-sharing kicks in: you’d pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after your deductible.
Private Insurance Coverage
Most private insurance plans cover DEXA scans for women over 65 and for younger people with risk factors for osteoporosis. Many plans follow similar criteria to Medicare, covering the scan every two years for qualifying patients. Under the Affordable Care Act, plans sold on the marketplace are required to cover bone density screening for women over 60 who are at increased risk, with no cost-sharing.
Your actual cost depends on your plan’s copay structure and whether the facility is in-network. Hospital-based imaging departments often trigger two separate copays (one for the facility, one for the doctor reading the scan), while independent centers usually generate just one. Calling your insurer before scheduling to confirm coverage and checking whether your chosen facility is in-network can prevent a surprise bill.
Ways to Lower the Price
If you’re uninsured or your plan doesn’t cover the scan, several strategies can bring the price down significantly. Prepaid healthcare platforms like MDsave let you purchase a DEXA scan upfront at a discounted rate, similar to booking a flight online. Hospitals partner with these platforms because getting paid in advance reduces their billing costs, and they pass some of that savings to you. Prices on these platforms often fall well below the standard cash rate.
You can also ask the imaging facility directly about a cash-pay discount. Many facilities offer 20% to 40% off their listed price if you pay at the time of service, though they rarely advertise this. Simply asking “What’s your self-pay rate?” when you call to schedule can save you $50 to $150.
Community health centers and university-affiliated clinics sometimes offer DEXA scans at reduced rates, particularly if you’re participating in a screening program. Some orthopedic and endocrinology practices have in-office DEXA machines and charge less than a hospital’s radiology department because their overhead is lower.
Hospital vs. Independent Imaging Center
This is the single biggest cost lever you can pull. Hospital outpatient departments charge a facility fee on top of the professional fee, and that facility fee alone can be $100 or more. Independent imaging centers roll everything into one charge. The scan itself is identical: the same type of machine, the same low-dose X-ray technology, and the same kind of radiologist reading your results.
The practical difference for you is that a hospital-based scan might cost $250 to $400+ out of pocket, while an independent center might charge $100 to $200 for the same thing. If your doctor refers you to a hospital’s radiology department, it’s worth asking whether an independent center is an option. Your referring doctor can usually send the order anywhere.