X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2314 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $395 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($53). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($107).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $681 list price could save about $286 (42%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Daughters Medical Center-Brookhaven | Brookhaven, MS | $61 | $130 | ★ 3/5 | 136 min | 15.3% |
| Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital | Austin, TX | $61 | $51 | — | — | 14.4% |
| Jefferson Health-Northeast | Philadelphia, PA | $64 | $22 | ★ 2/5 | 290 min | 15.4% |
| Prosser Memorial Hospital | Prosser, WA | $65 | $23 | ★ 3/5 | 126 min | 15.2% |
| Fallon Medical Complex Hospital | Baker, MT | $66 | $83 | — | 92 min | 15.2% |
| Cordova Community Medical Center | Cordova, AK | $67 | — | — | 127 min | — |
| Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center | Mason City, IA | $67 | $23 | ★ 2/5 | 188 min | 14.3% |
| Hancock County Hospital | Sneedville, TN | $68 | $209 | — | 106 min | — |
| Dickenson Community Hospital | Clintwood, VA | $68 | $99 | — | 109 min | — |
| Lee County Community Hospital | Pennington Gap, VA | $68 | $89 | — | 112 min | 15.2% |
| Johnson Memorial Hospital | Franklin, IN | $69 | $99 | ★ 5/5 | 144 min | 14.9% |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $69 | $87 | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 15.0% |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $69 | $87 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | 13.5% |
| Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center | Bristol, TN | $69 | $103 | ★ 2/5 | 192 min | 15.8% |
| Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center | Kingsport, TN | $69 | $103 | ★ 2/5 | 207 min | 14.8% |
| Sycamore Shoals Hospital | Elizabethton, TN | $69 | $99 | ★ 2/5 | 154 min | 15.0% |
| Hawkins County Memorial Hospital | Rogersville, TN | $69 | $100 | — | 112 min | 14.9% |
| Greeneville Community Hospital | Greeneville, TN | $69 | $101 | ★ 2/5 | 159 min | 16.0% |
| Johnson City Medical Center | Johnson City, TN | $69 | $99 | ★ 1/5 | 208 min | 15.5% |
| Indian Path Community Hospital | Kingsport, TN | $69 | $99 | — | 147 min | 14.5% |
| Franklin Woods Community Hospital | Johnson City, TN | $69 | $98 | ★ 3/5 | 176 min | 14.2% |
| Johnson County Community Hospital | Mountain City, TN | $69 | $99 | — | 126 min | — |
| Russell County Hospital | Lebanon, VA | $69 | $102 | ★ 4/5 | 117 min | 15.8% |
| Smyth County Community Hospital | Marion, VA | $69 | $105 | ★ 3/5 | 142 min | 14.7% |
| Johnston Memorial Hospital | Abingdon, VA | $69 | $105 | ★ 3/5 | 186 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 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 X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ 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: $395; Medicare pays $53.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 360 |
$10 – $142 |
| Univera | 16 |
$10 – $60 |
| Amerigroup | 173 |
$23 – $141 |
| Independent Health | 35 |
$13 – $233 |
| Medicare | 590 |
$13 – $170 |
| Highmark | 135 |
$15 – $211 |
| Geisinger | 71 |
$20 – $493 |
| Molina Healthcare | 560 |
$25 – $294 |
| Anthem | 572 |
$20 – $338 |
| Tricare / VA | 428 |
$13 – $359 |
| Humana | 1055 |
$39 – $573 |
| SelectHealth | 48 |
$34 – $459 |
| MVP Health Care | 86 |
$16 – $511 |
| Priority Health | 62 |
$19 – $390 |
| AmeriHealth | 227 |
$20 – $292 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 796 |
$24 – $345 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1308 |
$21 – $526 |
| Devoted Health | 166 |
$97 – $237 |
| UCare | 71 |
$27 – $581 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 158 |
$45 – $653 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 97 |
$32 – $541 |
| EmblemHealth | 66 |
$30 – $321 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 58 |
$31 – $611 |
| Oscar Health | 148 |
$27 – $401 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1535 |
$32 – $593 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 236 |
$39 – $786 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$55 – $1,137 |
| Aetna | 1434 |
$38 – $774 |
| Cigna | 1180 |
$60 – $828 |
| HealthPartners | 265 |
$28 – $666 |
| Medica | 248 |
$39 – $668 |
| Security Health Plan | 60 |
$42 – $778 |
| Health Net | 330 |
$37 – $1,358 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 82 |
$48 – $657 |
| Coventry | 161 |
$49 – $1,145 |
| Healthcare Highways | 50 |
$153 – $889 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 879 |
$78 – $1,582 |
| AvMed | 63 |
$200 – $2,020 |
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 | $77 |
| Mississippi | $142 |
| Tennessee | $144 |
| Rhode Island | $163 |
| Arkansas | $166 |
| New Jersey | $167 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2314 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $395, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $681, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $156, a Medicare rate of about $53. Most cash prices fall between $129 and $1,032 — 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) (4+ views) cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views)?
Why do X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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