Prices at 4 hospitals in Aurora, CO, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $3,602 — 88% above the US median ($1,913), roughly 18.9× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora, CO | $2,567 | $1,217 | ★ 5/5 | 102 min | — |
| VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System | Aurora, CO | $3,602 | $3,602 | ★ 5/5 | — | — |
| Children's Hospital Colorado | Aurora, CO | $3,602 | $3,602 | — | — | — |
| The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital | Aurora, CO | $10,109 | $644 | ★ 4/5 | 134 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.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $3,602 — about 18.9× the Medicare rate ($190). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($381).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $6,438 list price could save about $2,836 (44%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast prices in Colorado → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Aurora