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.
Price comparison (median)
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%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$8 – $39 |
| Medicaid | 356 |
$8 – $91 |
| Medicare | 582 |
$10 – $134 |
| Amerigroup | 168 |
$17 – $135 |
| Independent Health | 37 |
$10 – $228 |
| Highmark | 138 |
$12 – $194 |
| Molina Healthcare | 575 |
$17 – $201 |
| Geisinger | 72 |
$16 – $390 |
| Anthem | 603 |
$15 – $274 |
| MVP Health Care | 85 |
$10 – $304 |
| SelectHealth | 47 |
$21 – $279 |
| Priority Health | 62 |
$14 – $290 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 152 |
$33 – $365 |
| AmeriHealth | 240 |
$16 – $224 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 56 |
$22 – $452 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1314 |
$16 – $391 |
| Humana | 1066 |
$24 – $354 |
| Tricare / VA | 432 |
$10 – $241 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 807 |
$20 – $274 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 110 |
$25 – $335 |
| Devoted Health | 177 |
$57 – $124 |
| UCare | 76 |
$17 – $367 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1570 |
$21 – $421 |
| Aetna | 1454 |
$24 – $530 |
| EmblemHealth | 82 |
$15 – $230 |
| Cigna | 1207 |
$36 – $580 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 237 |
$27 – $529 |
| HealthPartners | 277 |
$22 – $463 |
| Oscar Health | 173 |
$22 – $265 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$25 – $793 |
| Security Health Plan | 66 |
$23 – $609 |
| Medica | 254 |
$29 – $470 |
| Health Net | 317 |
$25 – $997 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 84 |
$32 – $412 |
| Coventry | 165 |
$32 – $792 |
| Healthcare Highways | 47 |
$114 – $577 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 892 |
$51 – $997 |
| AvMed | 65 |
$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
| State | Median 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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Bennington, D.O. | Diagnostic Radiology | Portsmouth, OH | 380 |
| Charles Nivens, MD | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Bluffton, SC | 359 |
| Kim Podolnick, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Garden City, NY | 335 |
| Ryan Tai, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Worcester, MA | 334 |
| Guy Takahashi, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Tamc, HI | 308 |
| Amitabh Goswami, D.O., M.P.H. | Anesthesiology | Fresno, CA | 270 |
| Steven Shimoyama, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | Marina Del Rey, CA | 269 |
| Mona Korgaonkar, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Worcester, MA | 250 |
| Garth Koniver, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Wilmington, DE | 243 |
| Javaid Sheikh, MD FACP MRCP UK | Rheumatology | Orlando, FL | 233 |
| Brent Grimes, NP-C | Nurse Practitioner | Corinth, MS | 207 |
| Howard Schertzinger, MD | Internal Medicine | Florence, KY | 206 |
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?
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views)?
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views)?
Why do X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.