MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2096 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $2,221 — about 8.2× the Medicare rate ($270). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($539).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,894 list price could save about $1,673 (43%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens Memorial Hospital | Bolivar, MO | $338 | $372 | ★ 3/5 | 185 min | 14.6% |
| McLaren Lapeer Region | Lapeer, MI | $339 | $195 | ★ 2/5 | 186 min | 14.6% |
| Lower Bucks Hospital | Bristol, PA | $343 | $360 | ★ 3/5 | 154 min | 15.2% |
| Central Maine Medical Center | Lewiston, ME | $344 | $344 | ★ 4/5 | 239 min | 14.5% |
| Lake Huron Medical Center | Port Huron, MI | $345 | $346 | ★ 4/5 | 169 min | 14.6% |
| Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital | Saint Louis Park, MN | $346 | $378 | ★ 3/5 | 252 min | 15.4% |
| Garden City Hospital | Garden City, MI | $346 | $346 | ★ 2/5 | 108 min | 16.3% |
| Advanced Surgical Hospital | Washington, PA | $346 | $381 | — | — | 14.5% |
| St Joseph Medical Center | Kansas City, MO | $347 | $365 | ★ 3/5 | 126 min | 14.9% |
| Southern Regional Medical Center | Riverdale, GA | $348 | $348 | ★ 1/5 | 260 min | 15.5% |
| Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc | Newnan, GA | $348 | $348 | ★ 5/5 | — | 15.7% |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center | Natchitoches, LA | $348 | $348 | ★ 4/5 | 160 min | 15.4% |
| Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc | Harlingen, TX | $348 | $453 | ★ 2/5 | 154 min | 14.6% |
| Knapp Medical Center | Weslaco, TX | $348 | $366 | ★ 5/5 | 141 min | 14.4% |
| Mission Regional Medical Center | Mission, TX | $348 | $522 | ★ 4/5 | 151 min | 15.2% |
| Dallas Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $348 | $349 | ★ 3/5 | 133 min | 13.7% |
| Dallas Regional Medical Center | Mesquite, TX | $348 | $366 | ★ 3/5 | 168 min | 14.8% |
| Harlingen Medical Center | Harlingen, TX | $348 | $453 | ★ 4/5 | 163 min | 14.6% |
| University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center | Glen Burnie, MD | $350 | — | ★ 5/5 | — | 14.5% |
| Banner Boswell Medical Center | Sun City, AZ | $351 | $525 | ★ 3/5 | 227 min | 14.3% |
| Banner Ironwood Medical Center | Queen Creek, AZ | $354 | $525 | ★ 3/5 | 220 min | 15.3% |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton | Saint Johns, MI | $356 | $628 | ★ 4/5 | 183 min | 15.0% |
| Sparrow Ionia Hospital | Ionia, MI | $356 | $628 | ★ 2/5 | 158 min | 15.2% |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital | Philadelphia, PA | $356 | $374 | ★ 2/5 | 182 min | 15.5% |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson | Carson City, MI | $359 | $356 | ★ 4/5 | 95 min | 15.2% |
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 MRI 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: $2,221; Medicare pays $270.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Health | 26 |
$87 – $390 |
| Univera | 16 |
$71 – $330 |
| Medicaid | 313 |
$69 – $830 |
| Amerigroup | 165 |
$129 – $823 |
| Highmark | 117 |
$182 – $760 |
| Tricare / VA | 371 |
$86 – $2,240 |
| Medicare | 498 |
$82 – $942 |
| Molina Healthcare | 520 |
$144 – $1,545 |
| Devoted Health | 161 |
$324 – $874 |
| SelectHealth | 45 |
$280 – $2,446 |
| Priority Health | 55 |
$122 – $2,559 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 726 |
$160 – $1,731 |
| Anthem | 509 |
$134 – $1,830 |
| MVP Health Care | 78 |
$93 – $2,220 |
| Geisinger | 66 |
$102 – $1,357 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 84 |
$332 – $2,162 |
| AmeriHealth | 212 |
$102 – $1,310 |
| Oscar Health | 137 |
$221 – $1,903 |
| UCare | 57 |
$140 – $3,473 |
| Bright Health | 42 |
$422 – $4,447 |
| EmblemHealth | 61 |
$390 – $1,288 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1370 |
$186 – $2,738 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 50 |
$204 – $2,805 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1172 |
$185 – $3,297 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 219 |
$313 – $4,068 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 134 |
$184 – $3,530 |
| HealthPartners | 207 |
$164 – $3,315 |
| Humana | 937 |
$238 – $2,258 |
| Cigna | 1061 |
$326 – $4,068 |
| Aetna | 1320 |
$243 – $3,843 |
| Medica | 190 |
$212 – $3,876 |
| Health Net | 301 |
$273 – $5,900 |
| Security Health Plan | 48 |
$185 – $3,967 |
| Healthcare Highways | 39 |
$356 – $3,664 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 57 |
$250 – $3,598 |
| Coventry | 136 |
$321 – $6,470 |
| AvMed | 61 |
$1,080 – $3,533 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 804 |
$537 – $6,812 |
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 | $425 |
| Rhode Island | $707 |
| Maryland | $726 |
| New Jersey | $734 |
| Louisiana | $986 |
| Tennessee | $1,014 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2096 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,221, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,894, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $773, a Medicare rate of about $270. Most cash prices fall between $625 and $6,406 — 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 MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast?
Why do MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.