X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) Cost

X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2387 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$298median cash price · 2387 hospitals, 52 statestypically $104–$763 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$505
Cash / self-pay
$298
Insurer-negotiated
$144
Medicare pays
$40
$104$763
Median cash $298  ·  Medicare $40  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $298 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($40). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($81).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $505 list price could save about $207 (41%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $46 — — 127 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $48 $16 ★ 2/5 290 min 15.4%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $48 $16 — — 16.2%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%
Ochsner Choctaw General Butler, AL $51 $47 — 121 min —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $52 $64 — 92 min 15.2%
Memorial Hospital Dumas, TX $52 $43 — 82 min 15.5%
Ochsner Laird Hospital Union, MS $54 $47 — 101 min 15.4%
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $56 $107 ★ 3/5 140 min 15.2%
Ochsner Scott Regional Morton, MS $56 $47 — 79 min 14.9%
Banner North Colorado Medical Center Greeley, CO $57 $137 ★ 4/5 145 min 14.6%
Banner North Co Medical Center-Loveland Campus Loveland, CO $57 $137 ★ 3/5 142 min 14.3%
Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma, LA $58 $82 ★ 3/5 128 min 14.8%
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $59 $41 — 130 min 14.6%
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $59 $98 ★ 4/5 168 min 16.2%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $59 $45 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $59 $14 — 70 min —
Ochsner Watkins Hospital Quitman, MS $59 $47 — 85 min 15.1%
McLaren Thumb Region Bad Axe, MI $61 $14 ★ 5/5 118 min 14.2%
Ochsner Stennis Memorial Hospital De Kalb, MS $61 $47 — 91 min 14.9%
McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI $62 $59 ★ 2/5 238 min 15.2%
McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI $62 $59 ★ 2/5 106 min 15.2%
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $62 $98 ★ 3/5 185 min 14.5%
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $62 $98 ★ 4/5 132 min 15.1%

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 August 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 X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)

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: $298; Medicare pays $40.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 370
$26
$9 – $107
Univera 16
$29
$9 – $47
Amerigroup 176
$40
$24 – $141
Independent Health 37
$41
$11 – $222
Highmark 136
$46
$13 – $196
Medicare 603
$49
$10 – $141
Geisinger 72
$52
$15 – $394
Molina Healthcare 585
$59
$20 – $219
Anthem 605
$68
$17 – $301
AmeriHealth 241
$73
$15 – $231
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 161
$78
$31 – $477
MVP Health Care 86
$81
$12 – $415
Priority Health 63
$88
$16 – $287
SelectHealth 48
$89
$26 – $469
Tricare / VA 436
$97
$11 – $268
Humana 1100
$99
$29 – $404
UPMC Health Plan 111
$102
$26 – $403
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1348
$102
$18 – $425
Harvard Pilgrim 59
$102
$28 – $482
Centene / Ambetter 812
$104
$23 – $357
Devoted Health 180
$107
$86 – $218
UCare 77
$109
$23 – $390
UnitedHealthcare 1590
$121
$24 – $470
Aetna 1479
$128
$29 – $562
EmblemHealth 66
$131
$15 – $294
Oscar Health 162
$137
$25 – $269
Kaiser Permanente 242
$137
$29 – $575
Cigna 1222
$145
$44 – $642
Bright Health 41
$147
$59 – $903
HealthPartners 287
$169
$25 – $450
Medica 260
$170
$35 – $460
Security Health Plan 65
$190
$38 – $385
Sanford Health Plan 83
$222
$40 – $438
Health Net 337
$232
$30 – $937
Coventry 167
$309
$39 – $832
Healthcare Highways 51
$339
$114 – $600
MultiPlan / PHCS network 912
$424
$59 – $1,077
AvMed 66
$553
$120 – $1,695

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

StateMedian cash
Puerto Rico$34
Arkansas$118
Mississippi$125
Tennessee$127
New Jersey$135
Louisiana$146

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXNew York, NYLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYCincinnati, OHFort Worth, TXOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHKansas City, MONew Orleans, LAOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinNew YorkIllinoisFloridaPennsylvaniaMinnesotaMichiganNorth CarolinaLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriColoradoNebraskaArkansasOklahomaKansasIndianaArizonaSouth DakotaVirginiaKentuckyWashingtonMarylandNew JerseyMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaAlabamaMaineSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaOregonMontanaIdahoConnecticutNew HampshireUtahNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Nathan Bennington, D.O.Diagnostic RadiologyPortsmouth, OH1,980
Guy Takahashi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTamc, HI1,348
Elizabeth Morris, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY1,152
Charles Wennogle, MDDiagnostic RadiologyOcoee, FL1,139
Nicolaus Kuehn, MDDiagnostic RadiologyRockford, IL1,048
Tarun Pandey, M.D.; FRCRDiagnostic RadiologyLittle Rock, AR1,025
Amitabh Goswami, D.O., M.P.H.AnesthesiologyFresno, CA1,011
Atul Bhat, MDPhysical Medicine and RehabilitationNorth Chelmsford, MA993
Danh Nguyen, MDDiagnostic RadiologyRiverside, CA986
Ryan Tai, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWorcester, MA937
Stanley Crawford, D.O.Orthopedic SurgeryMonroe, LA878
Scott Burlison, MDPain ManagementTyler, TX866

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $40. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $8 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2387 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $298, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $505, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $144, a Medicare rate of about $40. Most cash prices fall between $104 and $763 — 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 X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2387 US hospitals is $298. Most hospitals fall between $104 and $763. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $40). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?
Medicare pays about $40. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

Related Imaging & Radiology

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See more Imaging & Radiology.