X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 views) Cost

X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2199 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$314median cash price · 2199 hospitals, 52 statestypically $111–$807 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$540
Cash / self-pay
$314
Insurer-negotiated
$147
Medicare pays
$39
$111$807
Median cash $314  ·  Medicare $39  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $314 — about 8.1× the Medicare rate ($39). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($77).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $540 list price could save about $226 (42%).

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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
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $48 $17 — — 16.2%
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $49 — — 127 min —
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $50 $99 ★ 1/5 200 min 15.3%
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $50 $63 — 92 min 15.2%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $52 $13 — 70 min —
Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar, MO $54 $112 ★ 3/5 185 min 14.6%
Pratt Regional Medical Center Pratt, KS $55 $102 ★ 4/5 99 min 14.2%
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $55 $106 ★ 3/5 140 min 15.2%
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids, MN $56 $106 ★ 4/5 154 min 14.4%
Riverwood Healthcare Center Aitkin, MN $57 $53 — 103 min 14.8%
King's Daughters Medical Center-Brookhaven Brookhaven, MS $57 $130 ★ 3/5 136 min 15.3%
Spartanburg Medical Center Spartanburg, SC $58 — ★ 2/5 180 min 14.4%
Cherokee Medical Center Gaffney, SC $58 $109 ★ 2/5 162 min 15.5%
Pelham Medical Center Greer, SC $58 $109 ★ 5/5 173 min 14.9%
Union Medical Center Union, SC $58 $108 — 156 min 14.8%
Minden Medical Center Minden, LA $58 $193 ★ 2/5 117 min 15.5%
McLaren Flint Flint, MI $58 $58 ★ 2/5 186 min 16.0%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $58 $44 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
McLaren Northern Michigan Petoskey, MI $58 $58 ★ 3/5 150 min 14.8%
Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma, LA $58 $82 ★ 3/5 128 min 14.8%
Southwell Medical, a Campus of Trmc Adel, GA $59 $97 — — 15.0%
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $59 $229 ★ 4/5 174 min 16.3%
NYU Langone Hospitals New York, NY $59 $126 ★ 5/5 206 min 13.1%
Tift Regional Medical Center Tifton, GA $62 $99 ★ 3/5 252 min 15.7%
McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI $62 $58 ★ 2/5 106 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 X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 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: $314; Medicare pays $39.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 327
$24
$8 – $112
Independent Health 33
$30
$11 – $214
Univera 16
$32
$9 – $46
Medicare 547
$39
$10 – $148
Amerigroup 165
$40
$16 – $141
Highmark 128
$45
$13 – $202
Geisinger 69
$50
$15 – $394
AmeriHealth 210
$53
$15 – $261
Molina Healthcare 525
$60
$20 – $231
Anthem 541
$64
$16 – $287
MVP Health Care 79
$79
$14 – $429
Priority Health 59
$86
$16 – $340
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 144
$88
$35 – $405
SelectHealth 46
$90
$28 – $309
Tricare / VA 402
$97
$11 – $295
Humana 983
$97
$29 – $415
Harvard Pilgrim 48
$98
$25 – $497
UPMC Health Plan 90
$102
$27 – $380
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1229
$102
$17 – $454
Centene / Ambetter 744
$104
$20 – $329
Devoted Health 165
$107
$96 – $230
UCare 71
$108
$21 – $469
UnitedHealthcare 1452
$127
$25 – $496
Oscar Health 139
$129
$23 – $257
Aetna 1345
$129
$28 – $618
EmblemHealth 56
$131
$30 – $283
Kaiser Permanente 231
$142
$28 – $630
Cigna 1104
$145
$44 – $624
Bright Health 40
$151
$107 – $1,110
HealthPartners 263
$159
$22 – $545
Medica 239
$202
$31 – $582
Security Health Plan 60
$207
$28 – $748
Health Net 311
$240
$26 – $1,235
Sanford Health Plan 81
$245
$38 – $532
Coventry 153
$327
$37 – $909
Healthcare Highways 49
$406
$112 – $789
MultiPlan / PHCS network 826
$462
$56 – $1,294
AvMed 61
$517
$133 – $1,277

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$102
Mississippi$113
Tennessee$129
Arkansas$132
Alabama$149
New Jersey$150

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXNew York, NYDallas, TXSacramento, CACincinnati, OHFort Worth, TXOklahoma City, OKCharlotte, NCHouston, TXKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSaint Louis, MOBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYBrooklyn, NYMiami, FLMilwaukee, WINew Orleans, LAOmaha, NERochester, NY

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioIllinoisFloridaWisconsinPennsylvaniaNew YorkMinnesotaMichiganNorth CarolinaGeorgiaLouisianaTennesseeIowaMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaIndianaKansasVirginiaKentuckyMarylandWashingtonArizonaArkansasSouth DakotaWest VirginiaMassachusettsNew JerseyAlabamaSouth CarolinaMaineMississippiNorth DakotaOregonMontanaIdahoConnecticutNevadaUtahNew HampshireNew MexicoHawaiiWyomingPuerto RicoVermontDelawareAlaskaRhode IslandWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2199 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $314, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $540, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $147, a Medicare rate of about $39. Most cash prices fall between $111 and $807 — 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 mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 views) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2199 US hospitals is $314. Most hospitals fall between $111 and $807. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 views)?
Medicare pays about $39. 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 mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 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.