X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views) Cost

X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2347 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$266median cash price · 2347 hospitals, 52 statestypically $97–$723 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$453
Cash / self-pay
$266
Insurer-negotiated
$134
Medicare pays
$33
$97$723
Median cash $266  ·  Medicare $33  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $266 — about 8.1× the Medicare rate ($33). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($66).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $453 list price could save about $186 (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
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $42 $62 — 102 min —
Estes Park Medical Center Estes Park, CO $44 $55 — — —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $45 $105 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH $45 $720 ★ 4/5 199 min —
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $45 $13 — — —
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids, MN $45 $88 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $46 $58 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $46 $58 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $47 $33 — 129 min —
Conway Medical Center Conway, SC $47 $21 ★ 2/5 134 min —
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $48 — — 130 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $48 $36 ★ 4/5 298 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $50 $34 — 130 min —
Williamson Memorial Inc Williamson, WV $51 $21 — — —
Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital Austin, TX $52 $33 — — —
Ochsner Choctaw General Butler, AL $52 $47 — 119 min —
Southwell Medical, a Campus of Trmc Adel, GA $53 $95 — — —
McLaren Northern Michigan Petoskey, MI $53 $58 ★ 3/5 157 min —
Hills & Dales General Hospital Cass City, MI $53 $208 ★ 4/5 91 min —
Hospital General De Castaner Castaner, PR $53 $24 — — —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $54 $98 ★ 4/5 174 min —
NYU Langone Hospitals New York, NY $54 $126 ★ 5/5 203 min —
King's Daughters Medical Center-Brookhaven Brookhaven, MS $55 $130 ★ 3/5 140 min —
White Mountain Regional Medical Center Springerville, AZ $56 $80 — 134 min —
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $57 $97 ★ 2/5 89 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 mid-back (thoracic 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: $266; Medicare pays $33.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$23
$8 – $39
Medicaid 356
$23
$8 – $91
Medicare 582
$34
$10 – $134
Amerigroup 168
$34
$17 – $135
Independent Health 37
$34
$10 – $228
Highmark 138
$37
$12 – $194
Molina Healthcare 575
$49
$17 – $201
Geisinger 72
$50
$16 – $390
Anthem 603
$59
$15 – $274
MVP Health Care 85
$66
$10 – $304
SelectHealth 47
$75
$21 – $279
Priority Health 62
$76
$14 – $290
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 152
$82
$33 – $365
AmeriHealth 240
$84
$16 – $224
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$88
$22 – $452
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1314
$91
$16 – $391
Humana 1066
$95
$24 – $354
Tricare / VA 432
$97
$10 – $241
Centene / Ambetter 807
$99
$20 – $274
UPMC Health Plan 110
$102
$25 – $335
Devoted Health 177
$103
$57 – $124
UCare 76
$108
$17 – $367
UnitedHealthcare 1570
$115
$21 – $421
Aetna 1454
$118
$24 – $530
EmblemHealth 82
$126
$15 – $230
Cigna 1207
$128
$36 – $580
Kaiser Permanente 237
$140
$27 – $529
HealthPartners 277
$140
$22 – $463
Oscar Health 173
$141
$22 – $265
Bright Health 40
$151
$25 – $793
Security Health Plan 66
$161
$23 – $609
Medica 254
$187
$29 – $470
Health Net 317
$199
$25 – $997
Sanford Health Plan 84
$217
$32 – $412
Coventry 165
$300
$32 – $792
Healthcare Highways 47
$306
$114 – $577
MultiPlan / PHCS network 892
$359
$51 – $997
AvMed 65
$505
$86 – $997

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
Mississippi$108
Tennessee$108
Arkansas$110
Alabama$125
New Jersey$142
Arizona$150

Prices by city

Prices by state

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, OH380
Charles Nivens, MDPhysical Medicine and RehabilitationBluffton, SC359
Kim Podolnick, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGarden City, NY335
Ryan Tai, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWorcester, MA334
Guy Takahashi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTamc, HI308
Amitabh Goswami, D.O., M.P.H.AnesthesiologyFresno, CA270
Steven Shimoyama, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryMarina Del Rey, CA269
Mona Korgaonkar, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWorcester, MA250
Garth Koniver, MDDiagnostic RadiologyWilmington, DE243
Javaid Sheikh, MD FACP MRCP UKRheumatologyOrlando, FL233
Brent Grimes, NP-CNurse PractitionerCorinth, MS207
Howard Schertzinger, MDInternal MedicineFlorence, KY206

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $33. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $7 — 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 2347 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $266, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $453, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $134, a Medicare rate of about $33. Most cash prices fall between $97 and $723 — 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 mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2347 US hospitals is $266. Most hospitals fall between $97 and $723. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $33). 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 mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views)?
Medicare pays about $33. 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 mid-back (thoracic 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.

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