CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2234 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,580 — about 9.4× the Medicare rate ($169). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($337).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,845 list price could save about $1,265 (44%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County Hospital | Monticello, KY | $243 | — | — | — | — |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Vincennes, IN | $244 | $249 | ★ 2/5 | 117 min | 14.2% |
| Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital | Baltimore, MD | $244 | $249 | ★ 3/5 | 234 min | 14.9% |
| North Arkansas Regional Medical Center | Harrison, AR | $247 | $183 | ★ 2/5 | 146 min | 15.1% |
| Doctor's Center De San Juan | Santurce, PR | $250 | $300 | — | — | 15.5% |
| Doctors' Center Bayamon | Bayamon, PR | $250 | $300 | — | — | 16.6% |
| Doctors' Center Hospital, Inc | Manati, PR | $250 | $300 | ★ 1/5 | — | 16.3% |
| Doctors Center Hospital Carolina Llc | Carolina, PR | $250 | $300 | — | 315 min | 15.8% |
| Rochester General Hospital | Rochester, NY | $252 | $126 | ★ 2/5 | 237 min | 15.8% |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center | Baltimore, MD | $254 | $259 | ★ 5/5 | 231 min | 13.5% |
| Acadia General Hospital | Crowley, LA | $256 | $325 | ★ 3/5 | 108 min | 15.4% |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $258 | $313 | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 15.0% |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $258 | $313 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | 13.5% |
| Calverthealth Medical Center | Prince Frederick, MD | $262 | — | ★ 5/5 | 200 min | 14.3% |
| University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics | Chicago, IL | $263 | $196 | ★ 4/5 | 319 min | 15.9% |
| Medstar Harbor Hospital | Baltimore, MD | $265 | $270 | ★ 4/5 | 208 min | 13.7% |
| University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston | Galveston, TX | $273 | $284 | ★ 3/5 | 191 min | 16.0% |
| Ochsner St Mary | Morgan City, LA | $274 | $348 | ★ 2/5 | 81 min | 15.4% |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent | Shreveport, LA | $274 | $348 | ★ 2/5 | — | — |
| Atlantic General Hospital | Berlin, MD | $284 | $284 | ★ 3/5 | 146 min | 14.9% |
| Gordon Memorial Hospital District | Gordon, NE | $285 | $268 | — | 105 min | 15.4% |
| White Mountain Regional Medical Center | Springerville, AZ | $290 | $80 | — | 132 min | 14.9% |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor, ME | $290 | $201 | — | 130 min | 14.6% |
| Adventist Healthcare Fort Washington Medical Ctr | Fort Washington, MD | $295 | $301 | ★ 4/5 | 214 min | 14.9% |
| Hospital Comunitario Buen Samaritano Inc | Aguadilla, PR | $295 | $130 | — | — | 15.7% |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
What insurers pay for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast
Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $1,580; Medicare pays $169.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$48 – $205 |
| Medicaid | 338 |
$44 – $641 |
| Independent Health | 29 |
$61 – $737 |
| Highmark | 129 |
$115 – $746 |
| Amerigroup | 167 |
$97 – $542 |
| MVP Health Care | 79 |
$62 – $2,129 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$82 – $1,314 |
| Medicare | 558 |
$60 – $738 |
| Molina Healthcare | 539 |
$91 – $1,494 |
| Tricare / VA | 410 |
$94 – $1,363 |
| AmeriHealth | 220 |
$82 – $1,192 |
| Anthem | 537 |
$93 – $1,334 |
| Priority Health | 59 |
$83 – $1,827 |
| SelectHealth | 46 |
$164 – $2,375 |
| Devoted Health | 165 |
$324 – $734 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 94 |
$140 – $1,320 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 52 |
$132 – $2,292 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 784 |
$104 – $1,131 |
| UCare | 61 |
$84 – $2,657 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1468 |
$116 – $2,447 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1254 |
$125 – $2,634 |
| EmblemHealth | 62 |
$172 – $936 |
| Humana | 997 |
$151 – $2,013 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 229 |
$164 – $2,734 |
| Oscar Health | 145 |
$146 – $1,480 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 149 |
$148 – $2,387 |
| Bright Health | 41 |
$422 – $3,578 |
| Cigna | 1130 |
$207 – $3,356 |
| HealthPartners | 231 |
$118 – $2,556 |
| Aetna | 1394 |
$158 – $3,053 |
| Medica | 224 |
$156 – $3,032 |
| Health Net | 316 |
$244 – $6,652 |
| Security Health Plan | 55 |
$125 – $2,383 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 69 |
$165 – $2,733 |
| Healthcare Highways | 41 |
$641 – $3,102 |
| Coventry | 148 |
$336 – $4,862 |
| AvMed | 61 |
$738 – $5,079 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 861 |
$344 – $6,996 |
Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.
Where it’s cheapest
| State | Median cash |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | $250 |
| Maryland | $254 |
| New Jersey | $574 |
| Rhode Island | $616 |
| Arizona | $695 |
| Arkansas | $762 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2234 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,580, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,845, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $616, a Medicare rate of about $169. Most cash prices fall between $507 and $4,684 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.
How to save
- Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
- Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
- Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
- Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
- If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast?
Why do CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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