CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast Cost

CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2170 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,742median cash price · 2170 hospitals, 52 statestypically $500–$4,862 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.9× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,124
Cash / self-pay
$1,742
Insurer-negotiated
$461
Medicare pays
$197
$500$4,862
Median cash $1,742  ·  Medicare $197  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,742 — about 8.9× the Medicare rate ($197). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($393).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,124 list price could save about $1,382 (44%).

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
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $262 $465 ★ 4/5 182 min —
Gateway Regional Medical Center Granite City, IL $268 — ★ 2/5 140 min —
University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore, MD $271 — ★ 3/5 309 min —
University of Md Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, MD $271 — ★ 3/5 262 min —
University of Md St Joseph Medical Center Towson, MD $271 — ★ 5/5 264 min —
Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center Rockville, MD $272 $277 ★ 2/5 204 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $276 $335 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $276 $335 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $276 $180 ★ 3/5 252 min —
New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans, LA $277 $650 — 140 min —
Dunes Surgical Hospital Dakota Dunes, SD $281 $600 — — —
Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, MD $291 — ★ 3/5 230 min —
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc Salisbury, MD $292 $298 ★ 4/5 177 min —
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $296 — — — —
St Joseph Hospital Bangor, ME $301 $203 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA $301 $203 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes, IN $302 $308 ★ 2/5 119 min —
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $302 $308 ★ 3/5 247 min —
McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH $303 — ★ 3/5 132 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Cincinnati, OH $303 — ★ 4/5 157 min —
Bethesda North Cincinnati, OH $303 — ★ 3/5 155 min —
Fresno Surgical Hospital Fresno, CA $306 $238 — — —
Greater Regional Medical Center Creston, IA $307 $431 ★ 3/5 101 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $311 $216 — 130 min —
Edward W Sparrow Hospital Lansing, MI $312 $178 ★ 3/5 299 min —

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 October 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 CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and 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: $1,742; Medicare pays $197.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$167
$51 – $240
Devoted Health 178
$179
$163 – $648
Medicare 529
$181
$111 – $824
Amerigroup 171
$184
$105 – $553
Tricare / VA 390
$185
$102 – $1,523
Independent Health 29
$190
$63 – $361
Molina Healthcare 539
$195
$108 – $1,391
Medicaid 337
$195
$54 – $834
Highmark 127
$207
$141 – $382
Centene / Ambetter 779
$237
$115 – $1,536
Priority Health 54
$241
$87 – $1,828
SelectHealth 45
$246
$169 – $2,232
Bright Health 40
$279
$210 – $5,104
AmeriHealth 224
$282
$86 – $1,217
EmblemHealth 74
$285
$211 – $707
MVP Health Care 77
$296
$80 – $2,626
UnitedHealthcare 1451
$298
$127 – $2,476
Oscar Health 163
$312
$165 – $1,290
Geisinger 65
$312
$86 – $1,341
Kaiser Permanente 220
$320
$187 – $3,005
UPMC Health Plan 105
$323
$166 – $1,614
UCare 61
$329
$99 – $2,668
Anthem 550
$346
$131 – $1,334
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1220
$391
$134 – $2,856
Harvard Pilgrim 48
$419
$147 – $2,458
HealthPartners 207
$480
$122 – $3,422
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 140
$533
$178 – $2,656
Humana 989
$538
$143 – $1,987
Cigna 1128
$574
$176 – $3,647
Aetna 1394
$742
$161 – $3,421
Medica 201
$854
$155 – $3,218
Security Health Plan 49
$1,029
$137 – $3,576
Health Net 289
$1,131
$187 – $7,928
Sanford Health Plan 60
$1,314
$166 – $2,593
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,668
$539 – $3,498
AvMed 64
$1,863
$402 – $3,879
Coventry 141
$2,325
$185 – $4,839
MultiPlan / PHCS network 849
$2,763
$430 – $7,470

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
Maryland$307
Rhode Island$478
New Jersey$595
Arkansas$841
Tennessee$864
Mississippi$917

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXBaltimore, MDDallas, TXCincinnati, OHNew York, NYFort Worth, TXHouston, TXOklahoma City, OKSacramento, CABaton Rouge, LABronx, NYBrooklyn, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CANashville, TNOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOLittle Rock, ARMiami, FLMilwaukee, WI

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaNew YorkIllinoisWisconsinFloridaNorth CarolinaMinnesotaMichiganGeorgiaTennesseeLouisianaMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaArkansasKentuckyIndianaIowaArizonaKansasWashingtonNew JerseyVirginiaMississippiMarylandMaineWest VirginiaSouth CarolinaAlabamaMassachusettsOregonNorth DakotaIdahoMontanaUtahNevadaConnecticutSouth DakotaNew HampshirePuerto RicoNew MexicoWyomingHawaiiVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $197. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $39 — 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 2170 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,742, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,124, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $461, a Medicare rate of about $197. Most cash prices fall between $500 and $4,862 — 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 CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2170 US hospitals is $1,742. Most hospitals fall between $500 and $4,862. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $197). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast?
Medicare pays about $197. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast 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.

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