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

X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2419 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$341median cash price · 2419 hospitals, 52 statestypically $121–$906 depending on the hospital

≈ 7.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)

$590

Cash / self-pay

$341

Insurer-negotiated

$149

Medicare pays

$47

$121$906

Median cash $341 · Medicare $47 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)

Is this a fair price?

1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $341 — about 7.3× the Medicare rate ($47). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($94).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $590 list price could save about $249 (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

See negotiated rates for your insurer:

Hospital	Location	Cash	Insurer	CMS rating	ER wait	Readmit
Jefferson Health-Northeast	Philadelphia, PA	$56	$20	★ 2/5	316 min	—
Mount Desert Island Hospital	Bar Harbor, ME	$59	$41	—	130 min	—
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down	Iowa City, IA	$59	$81	★ 4/5	149 min	—
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics	Iowa City, IA	$59	$81	★ 2/5	210 min	—
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital	Baker, MT	$59	$82	—	102 min	—
Bleckley Memorial Hospital	Cochran, GA	$61	$102	—	127 min	—
McLaren Caro Region	Caro, MI	$61	$15	—	72 min	—
McLaren Thumb Region	Bad Axe, MI	$63	$15	★ 5/5	119 min	—
McLaren Port Huron	Port Huron, MI	$63	$60	★ 2/5	231 min	—
McLaren Oakland	Pontiac, MI	$64	$59	★ 2/5	103 min	—
Mc Donough District Hospital	Macomb, IL	$64	$63	★ 3/5	145 min	—
Prosser Memorial Hospital	Prosser, WA	$65	$17	★ 3/5	112 min	—
Banner North Colorado Medical Center	Greeley, CO	$65	$137	★ 4/5	137 min	—
Banner North Co Medical Center-Loveland Campus	Loveland, CO	$65	$137	★ 3/5	140 min	—
Hutchinson Health	Hutchinson, MN	$66	$107	★ 3/5	140 min	—
Hancock County Hospital	Sneedville, TN	$66	$207	—	104 min	—
Dickenson Community Hospital	Clintwood, VA	$66	$93	—	109 min	—
Lee County Community Hospital	Pennington Gap, VA	$66	$89	—	109 min	—
Ochsner Choctaw General	Butler, AL	$66	$57	—	119 min	—
Ochsner Medical Center Acute	New Orleans, LA	$66	$98	★ 4/5	174 min	—
Ochsner Laird Hospital	Union, MS	$66	$58	—	102 min	—
Cordova Community Medical Center	Cordova, AK	$67	—	—	130 min	—
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics	Chicago, IL	$67	$50	★ 4/5	298 min	—
Citizens Memorial Hospital	Bolivar, MO	$67	$112	★ 3/5	186 min	—
Conway Medical Center	Conway, SC	$67	$26	★ 2/5	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.

What insurers pay for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine)

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: $341; Medicare pays $47.

Insurer	Hospitals	Negotiated median
Medicaid	378	$28 $9 – $127
Univera	16	$32 $10 – $47
Highmark	142	$50 $15 – $204
Amerigroup	177	$51 $23 – $141
Independent Health	37	$54 $11 – $230
Medicare	617	$55 $12 – $154
Geisinger	75	$59 $20 – $403
Molina Healthcare	592	$67 $20 – $252
Workers' Comp / No-Fault	162	$78 $42 – $550
Anthem	625	$79 $20 – $317
AmeriHealth	246	$86 $15 – $264
SelectHealth	49	$93 $28 – $469
MVP Health Care	89	$94 $13 – $442
Tricare / VA	443	$97 $12 – $318
Priority Health	62	$98 $18 – $377
Humana	1120	$100 $35 – $468
UPMC Health Plan	116	$104 $26 – $440
Centene / Ambetter	833	$105 $23 – $355
Blue Cross Blue Shield	1363	$105 $20 – $456
Devoted Health	184	$107 $86 – $219
UCare	78	$112 $23 – $451
Harvard Pilgrim	59	$114 $28 – $543
UnitedHealthcare	1628	$128 $27 – $517
EmblemHealth	82	$130 $27 – $283
Aetna	1515	$135 $34 – $681
Kaiser Permanente	244	$141 $33 – $716
Oscar Health	178	$142 $28 – $287
Bright Health	41	$149 $48 – $1,137
Cigna	1255	$161 $52 – $745
HealthPartners	290	$179 $27 – $600
Medica	263	$182 $38 – $583
Security Health Plan	65	$234 $39 – $594
Health Net	338	$248 $33 – $1,149
Sanford Health Plan	85	$250 $40 – $582
Coventry	172	$353 $42 – $1,004
Healthcare Highways	51	$421 $116 – $690
MultiPlan / PHCS network	930	$477 $66 – $1,304
AvMed	68	$722 $120 – $1,876

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

State	Median cash
Puerto Rico	$127
Mississippi	$135
Arkansas	$135
Tennessee	$135
New Jersey	$141
Rhode Island	$177

Prices by city

Prices by state

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

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $47. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $9 — 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 2419 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $341, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $590, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $149, a Medicare rate of about $47. Most cash prices fall between $121 and $906 — 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) cost without insurance?

The median cash (self-pay) price across 2419 US hospitals is $341. Most hospitals fall between $121 and $906. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.

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

Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $47). 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)?

Medicare pays about $47. 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) 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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