Prices at 3 hospitals in Bangor, ME, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $314 — 84% below the US median ($1,913), roughly 1.7× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph Hospital | Bangor, ME | $314 | $277 | ★ 3/5 | 186 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 $314 — about 1.7× the Medicare rate ($190). Reasonable. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($381).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,209 list price could save about $895 (74%).
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 Maine → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Bangor