X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) Cost

X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2408 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$297median cash price · 2408 hospitals, 52 statestypically $106–$768 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$505
Cash / self-pay
$297
Insurer-negotiated
$142
Medicare pays
$40
$106$768
Median cash $297  ·  Medicare $40  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $297 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($40). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($81).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $505 list price could save about $208 (41%).

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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
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $46 — — 130 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $48 $16 ★ 2/5 316 min —
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $48 $16 — — —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Ochsner Choctaw General Butler, AL $51 $47 — 119 min —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $52 $64 — 102 min —
Memorial Hospital Dumas, TX $52 $43 — 81 min —
Ochsner Laird Hospital Union, MS $54 $47 — 102 min —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $56 $107 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Ochsner Scott Regional Morton, MS $56 $47 — 82 min —
Banner North Colorado Medical Center Greeley, CO $57 $137 ★ 4/5 137 min —
Banner North Co Medical Center-Loveland Campus Loveland, CO $57 $137 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma, LA $58 $82 ★ 3/5 126 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $59 $41 — 130 min —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $59 $98 ★ 4/5 174 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $59 $45 ★ 4/5 298 min —
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $59 $14 — 72 min —
Ochsner Watkins Hospital Quitman, MS $59 $47 — 90 min —
McLaren Thumb Region Bad Axe, MI $61 $14 ★ 5/5 119 min —
Ochsner Stennis Memorial Hospital De Kalb, MS $61 $47 — 90 min —
McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI $62 $59 ★ 2/5 231 min —
McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI $62 $59 ★ 2/5 103 min —
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $62 $98 ★ 3/5 185 min —
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $62 $98 ★ 4/5 135 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 X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 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: $297; Medicare pays $40.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 376
$26
$9 – $107
Univera 16
$29
$9 – $47
Amerigroup 177
$40
$20 – $141
Independent Health 37
$41
$11 – $222
Highmark 142
$45
$13 – $196
Geisinger 75
$52
$15 – $394
Medicare 609
$55
$10 – $141
Molina Healthcare 589
$59
$20 – $222
Anthem 622
$69
$17 – $300
AmeriHealth 245
$71
$15 – $228
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 162
$78
$31 – $477
MVP Health Care 88
$81
$12 – $395
Priority Health 62
$88
$16 – $287
SelectHealth 48
$89
$26 – $469
Tricare / VA 441
$97
$11 – $262
Humana 1114
$99
$29 – $404
Harvard Pilgrim 59
$99
$28 – $481
UPMC Health Plan 116
$100
$23 – $403
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1357
$102
$18 – $427
Centene / Ambetter 830
$104
$23 – $357
Devoted Health 184
$107
$86 – $218
UCare 78
$109
$23 – $390
UnitedHealthcare 1621
$120
$24 – $470
EmblemHealth 81
$126
$15 – $283
Aetna 1509
$128
$29 – $567
Kaiser Permanente 244
$137
$29 – $575
Oscar Health 177
$141
$25 – $265
Cigna 1249
$145
$44 – $640
Bright Health 41
$147
$59 – $903
HealthPartners 290
$168
$25 – $449
Medica 262
$170
$35 – $460
Security Health Plan 65
$190
$38 – $385
Sanford Health Plan 85
$222
$40 – $438
Health Net 338
$232
$30 – $937
Coventry 171
$309
$38 – $820
Healthcare Highways 51
$339
$114 – $600
MultiPlan / PHCS network 927
$424
$59 – $1,077
AvMed 68
$553
$120 – $1,695

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
Arkansas$118
Tennessee$127
Mississippi$127
New Jersey$135
Puerto Rico$142
Louisiana$146

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYCincinnati, OHFort Worth, TXOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHKansas City, MONew Orleans, LAOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaWisconsinNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMinnesotaMichiganNorth CarolinaLouisianaGeorgiaIowaTennesseeMissouriNebraskaColoradoArkansasOklahomaKansasIndianaSouth DakotaArizonaVirginiaKentuckyWashingtonMarylandNew JerseyMississippiMassachusettsMaineWest VirginiaAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoConnecticutNew HampshireNevadaUtahNew MexicoPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Nathan Bennington, D.O.Diagnostic RadiologyPortsmouth, OH1,980
Guy Takahashi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTamc, HI1,348
Elizabeth Morris, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY1,152
Charles Wennogle, MDDiagnostic RadiologyOcoee, FL1,139
Nicolaus Kuehn, MDDiagnostic RadiologyRockford, IL1,048
Tarun Pandey, M.D.; FRCRDiagnostic RadiologyLittle Rock, AR1,025
Amitabh Goswami, D.O., M.P.H.AnesthesiologyFresno, CA1,011
Atul Bhat, MDPhysical Medicine and RehabilitationNorth Chelmsford, MA993
Danh Nguyen, MDDiagnostic RadiologyRiverside, CA986
Ryan Tai, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWorcester, MA937
Stanley Crawford, D.O.Orthopedic SurgeryMonroe, LA878
Scott Burlison, MDPain ManagementTyler, TX866

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $40. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $8 — 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 2408 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $297, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $505, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $142, a Medicare rate of about $40. Most cash prices fall between $106 and $768 — 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) (2 views) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2408 US hospitals is $297. Most hospitals fall between $106 and $768. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $40). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views)?
Medicare pays about $40. 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 lower back (lumbar spine) (2 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.