CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2095 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,754 — about 8.9× the Medicare rate ($197). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($393).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,146 list price could save about $1,392 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Regional Medical Center | Granite City, IL | $268 | — | ★ 2/5 | 142 min | 15.4% |
| University of Maryland Medical Center | Baltimore, MD | $271 | — | ★ 3/5 | 330 min | 14.3% |
| University of Md Charles Regional Medical Center | La Plata, MD | $271 | — | ★ 3/5 | 278 min | 13.6% |
| University of Md St Joseph Medical Center | Towson, MD | $271 | — | ★ 5/5 | 281 min | 13.1% |
| Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center | Rockville, MD | $272 | $277 | ★ 2/5 | 200 min | 14.5% |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $276 | $335 | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 15.0% |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $276 | $335 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | 13.5% |
| Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center | Camp Hill, PA | $276 | $180 | ★ 3/5 | 250 min | 15.3% |
| New Orleans East Hospital | New Orleans, LA | $277 | $650 | — | 137 min | 14.9% |
| Dunes Surgical Hospital | Dakota Dunes, SD | $281 | $600 | — | — | 15.3% |
| Gordon Memorial Hospital District | Gordon, NE | $285 | $268 | — | 105 min | 15.4% |
| Frederick Health Hospital | Frederick, MD | $291 | — | ★ 3/5 | 230 min | 14.1% |
| Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc | Salisbury, MD | $292 | $298 | ★ 4/5 | 176 min | 13.8% |
| Wayne County Hospital | Monticello, KY | $296 | — | — | — | — |
| St Joseph Hospital | Bangor, ME | $301 | $203 | ★ 3/5 | 188 min | 15.6% |
| Penn State Health St. Joseph | Reading, PA | $301 | $203 | ★ 3/5 | 216 min | 15.6% |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Vincennes, IN | $302 | $308 | ★ 2/5 | 117 min | 14.2% |
| Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital | Baltimore, MD | $302 | $308 | ★ 3/5 | 234 min | 14.9% |
| McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital | Oxford, OH | $303 | — | ★ 3/5 | 132 min | 15.5% |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Cincinnati, OH | $303 | — | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 14.3% |
| Bethesda North | Cincinnati, OH | $303 | — | ★ 3/5 | 151 min | 15.5% |
| Fresno Surgical Hospital | Fresno, CA | $306 | $238 | — | — | 14.4% |
| Greater Regional Medical Center | Creston, IA | $307 | $431 | ★ 3/5 | 98 min | 14.5% |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor, ME | $311 | $216 | — | 130 min | 14.6% |
| Edward W Sparrow Hospital | Lansing, MI | $312 | $178 | ★ 3/5 | 301 min | 13.6% |
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 and without 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: $1,754; Medicare pays $197.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$51 – $240 |
| Devoted Health | 161 |
$163 – $797 |
| Medicare | 521 |
$111 – $824 |
| Amerigroup | 167 |
$105 – $563 |
| Tricare / VA | 383 |
$108 – $1,524 |
| Independent Health | 28 |
$63 – $361 |
| Molina Healthcare | 513 |
$108 – $1,448 |
| Medicaid | 328 |
$54 – $834 |
| Highmark | 121 |
$142 – $382 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 755 |
$115 – $1,536 |
| Priority Health | 55 |
$87 – $1,828 |
| SelectHealth | 45 |
$169 – $2,232 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$210 – $5,104 |
| AmeriHealth | 208 |
$86 – $1,243 |
| EmblemHealth | 59 |
$211 – $900 |
| Oscar Health | 135 |
$164 – $1,515 |
| MVP Health Care | 75 |
$80 – $2,701 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1394 |
$130 – $2,524 |
| Anthem | 509 |
$131 – $1,417 |
| Geisinger | 63 |
$86 – $1,422 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 88 |
$171 – $1,741 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 217 |
$187 – $3,009 |
| UCare | 59 |
$97 – $2,695 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1199 |
$136 – $2,856 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 48 |
$147 – $2,473 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 139 |
$178 – $2,656 |
| Humana | 953 |
$143 – $2,022 |
| Cigna | 1074 |
$178 – $3,724 |
| HealthPartners | 200 |
$120 – $3,422 |
| Aetna | 1336 |
$164 – $3,438 |
| Medica | 198 |
$155 – $3,224 |
| Security Health Plan | 48 |
$137 – $3,721 |
| Health Net | 286 |
$187 – $7,928 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 58 |
$166 – $2,593 |
| Healthcare Highways | 41 |
$539 – $3,498 |
| AvMed | 60 |
$738 – $3,879 |
| Coventry | 136 |
$190 – $4,876 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 811 |
$448 – $7,520 |
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 | $307 |
| Rhode Island | $478 |
| New Jersey | $597 |
| Arizona | $774 |
| Arkansas | $841 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2095 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,754, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,146, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $489, a Medicare rate of about $197. Most cash prices fall between $521 and $4,954 — 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 and without contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast?
Why do CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.