A coronary calcium scan is a short, low-dose CT of the heart. In the Philadelphia area it is done at hospital imaging departments and outpatient imaging centers, and it is usually paid out of pocket. Patients tell us they have paid roughly $100 to $200, but that is what patients report, not a quote. Prices vary, so call the center and ask before you book.
Cardio Res-Q does not run its own scanner or keep a list of imaging centers. Below is how to find one, what to ask, and what happens with the score afterward.
Key takeaways
- The scan is a quick CT with no needle, no IV and no dye, done at an outside imaging center.
- The self-pay price patients report is about $100 to $200, and only the center can tell you its current price.
- You find and book the center yourself, so ask whether it needs a doctor's order and whether a radiologist's report comes with the score.
- In the $999 Enhanced Assessment your provider orders the scan, and you pay the imaging center directly.
- A score you already have can be brought to a first-time assessment and still serves as a baseline.
What a calcium scan is, in one paragraph
The scan uses CT to look for calcium in the walls of the heart's arteries. Calcium there is a marker of hardened plaque. The result is a number called the Agatston score, named after the cardiologist who described the method in 1990.1 There is no contrast dye and no IV line, and the radiation dose is small: a calcium scan exposes you to about 1 to 1.5 mSv.2 For how the score bands work and what each range means, see our main calcium score guide.
What it costs in the Philadelphia area
Most people pay for a calcium scan themselves. Our patients have reported paying roughly $100 to $200 at local centers. We share that range so you know what to expect, but we do not set these prices and we cannot quote them.
When you call, ask for the total self-pay price, including the radiologist's reading. Ask whether that price covers the written report or whether the report is billed separately.
How to find an imaging center near you
We do not keep a list, so you will search for one yourself.
- Search the right terms. Try "coronary calcium scan", "calcium score test" or "heart scan" along with your county: Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester or Bucks.
- Look in two places. Hospital imaging or radiology departments often offer the scan, and so do outpatient imaging centers.
- Call before you book. A short call answers the questions below.
How far ahead centers book and how fast results come back varies. Check that with the imaging facility directly.
Questions to ask the imaging center
| Ask this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Do I need a doctor's order? | Some centers require one and some do not. It varies by center. |
| What is the total self-pay price? | Make sure the price includes the radiologist's reading. |
| Will I get a radiologist's report with the Agatston score and percentile? | The percentile compares you with people of the same age, sex and background, and it affects how the score is read. |
| How do I get my results and report? | You will want a copy of the written report, not just a phone call. |
| What should I do before the scan? | The center's own instructions on caffeine and clothing come first. |
The percentile matters more than many people expect. Large US cohort data show that calcium levels differ by age, sex and race or ethnicity, so the same score can mean something different for a 45-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man.3 For the day itself, our guide on how to prepare for a calcium scan covers the details.
What the score means for treatment decisions
A calcium score is most useful when you and your clinician are unsure whether to start treatment, such as a statin. Under the 2026 US cholesterol guideline, a score of zero supports deferring therapy and rescanning in 3 to 7 years, unless you have diabetes, smoke, have familial hypercholesterolemia or a strong family history.4 Under the earlier 2018 guideline, a score of 100 or more, or a score at or above the 75th percentile, favors starting a statin.5
Be clear about the limits. A calcium scan sees calcified plaque only, and soft plaque that has not calcified can be missed.6 It is not a test for chest pain. In 2018 the US Preventive Services Task Force found the evidence insufficient to judge adding a calcium score to standard risk assessment in adults without symptoms.7 If you have symptoms, see a doctor or call 911 rather than booking a screening scan.
Two routes: the Enhanced Assessment, or bring your own score
The $999 Enhanced Assessment. This includes everything in the Comprehensive Assessment plus a CIMT ultrasound and a calcium score. Your provider orders the scan. You then schedule it at an imaging center you choose and pay that center directly, separate from the $999. Labs are drawn at least a week before your 1-hour consult with Dr. Varano. Check scan timing with the imaging facility.
Already have a score? Calcium scores done elsewhere are accepted. A calcium score keeps clinical value for several years as a baseline, so a recent outside score may still be useful. Bring the full report, with the date, the Agatston score and the percentile, to a first-time assessment. There is no separate results-review visit: everyone starts with either the $775 Comprehensive Assessment or the $999 Enhanced Assessment. Our comparison of the $775 and $999 assessments walks through the choice.
Next step: how to book
Choose your assessment on the Cardio Res-Q program page: the Comprehensive Assessment at $775 or the Enhanced Assessment at $999. Both are direct-pay and are not billed to insurance. Patients are welcome to try an HSA or FSA card, but the clinic has no data on whether it will be accepted, and it does not provide insurance reimbursement forms. Optional ongoing care is available afterward but is never required.
Not sure which route fits? Contact our team before you book. Cardio Res-Q is not emergency care.
Are You a Candidate for Cardio Res-Q?
Three quick questions about the risk factors we screen for. Your answers stay between you and the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend an imaging center near me?
No. The clinic does not keep a list of imaging centers. Search for a coronary calcium scan at hospital imaging departments or outpatient imaging centers in your county, and call to confirm the price and whether a doctor's order is needed.
Is $100 to $200 a fixed price?
No. It is the range our patients have reported paying, not a quote. Each center sets its own price, so ask for the total self-pay cost, including the radiologist's reading, before you book.
My score is a few years old. Is it still useful?
Often, yes. Outside scores are accepted, and a score keeps value for several years as a baseline. Bring the report to your first assessment, and your provider will decide whether a new scan makes sense.
Related reading
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Decisions about testing and medication should be made with your clinician. If you have chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.
