MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2252 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,948 — about 10.2× the Medicare rate ($192). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($383).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,462 list price could save about $1,513 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Chaffee Hospital | Springville, NY | $293 | $254 | — | 144 min | 15.2% |
| Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery | Nashville, TN | $298 | $206 | — | — | 14.0% |
| Sisters of Charity Hospital | Buffalo, NY | $300 | $165 | ★ 3/5 | 197 min | 15.3% |
| Kenmore Mercy Hospital | Kenmore, NY | $300 | $160 | ★ 3/5 | 230 min | 14.4% |
| University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics | Chicago, IL | $302 | $233 | ★ 4/5 | 319 min | 15.9% |
| Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center | Sun City West, AZ | $302 | $356 | ★ 3/5 | 239 min | 15.1% |
| Banner Baywood Medical Center | Mesa, AZ | $305 | $381 | ★ 2/5 | 266 min | 13.9% |
| Paradise Valley Hospital | National City, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 202 min | 16.0% |
| Saint Francis Medical Center | Lynwood, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 250 min | 14.9% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center | Encino, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 135 min | 15.6% |
| Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center | Garden Grove, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 138 min | 16.6% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center | Anaheim, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 196 min | 16.6% |
| Huntington Beach Hospital | Huntington Beach, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 1/5 | 173 min | 14.8% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital | La Palma, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 214 min | 16.5% |
| Chino Valley Medical Center | Chino, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 4/5 | 173 min | 16.1% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital | San Dimas, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 155 min | 15.5% |
| Desert Valley Hospital | Victorville, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 173 min | 15.8% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital | Sherman Oaks, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 153 min | 15.8% |
| Montclair Hospital Medical Center | Montclair, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 151 min | 15.3% |
| Shasta Regional Medical Center | Redding, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 148 min | 15.9% |
| Jefferson Stratford Hospital | Stratford, NJ | $309 | $246 | ★ 2/5 | 235 min | 17.5% |
| Banner Estrella Medical Center | Phoenix, AZ | $309 | $361 | ★ 3/5 | 243 min | 13.9% |
| Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical | Montclair, NJ | $312 | $3,657 | ★ 4/5 | 234 min | 15.1% |
| St Joseph Hospital | Bangor, ME | $314 | $277 | ★ 3/5 | 188 min | 15.6% |
| Penn State Health St. Joseph | Reading, PA | $314 | $277 | ★ 3/5 | 216 min | 15.6% |
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 MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) 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: $1,948; Medicare pays $192.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$59 – $233 |
| Medicaid | 345 |
$60 – $645 |
| Independent Health | 28 |
$74 – $467 |
| Amerigroup | 170 |
$107 – $681 |
| Highmark | 130 |
$112 – $540 |
| Medicare | 582 |
$68 – $872 |
| Tricare / VA | 411 |
$72 – $1,959 |
| SelectHealth | 49 |
$153 – $2,007 |
| Devoted Health | 162 |
$221 – $823 |
| Molina Healthcare | 551 |
$100 – $1,273 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 783 |
$110 – $1,272 |
| AmeriHealth | 219 |
$100 – $1,449 |
| Bright Health | 44 |
$238 – $4,046 |
| Anthem | 556 |
$111 – $1,702 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 94 |
$216 – $1,949 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$100 – $1,119 |
| Oscar Health | 145 |
$154 – $1,735 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 62 |
$153 – $2,567 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1527 |
$137 – $2,749 |
| EmblemHealth | 64 |
$285 – $1,404 |
| MVP Health Care | 83 |
$92 – $2,541 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 229 |
$199 – $2,888 |
| UCare | 69 |
$117 – $3,094 |
| Priority Health | 59 |
$105 – $2,232 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1303 |
$135 – $3,040 |
| Humana | 1020 |
$157 – $2,222 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 151 |
$161 – $3,218 |
| Cigna | 1149 |
$225 – $3,716 |
| Aetna | 1424 |
$168 – $3,411 |
| HealthPartners | 268 |
$143 – $3,535 |
| Medica | 250 |
$190 – $3,596 |
| Health Net | 335 |
$193 – $5,631 |
| Security Health Plan | 61 |
$121 – $3,865 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 76 |
$184 – $3,262 |
| Healthcare Highways | 38 |
$431 – $3,170 |
| Coventry | 154 |
$206 – $4,733 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 859 |
$328 – $5,290 |
| AvMed | 63 |
$1,080 – $3,603 |
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 | $400 |
| Maryland | $469 |
| New Jersey | $593 |
| Rhode Island | $616 |
| Arizona | $823 |
| Arkansas | $887 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2252 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,948, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,462, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $617, a Medicare rate of about $192. Most cash prices fall between $581 and $5,304 — 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) without contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast?
Why do MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.