Published cash price
$227–$26,406
what 128 hospitals and imaging centers list for a self-pay lower back MRI
Typical insured rate
$1,476
median of every commercial plan rate in the files
Lowest insured rate
$143
BCBS (ALL PRODUCTS), Valleywise Health Medical Center
Lower back MRI cost by city
Open a city to see every hospital and the rates by insurer.
| City | Published cash price | Typical insured rate | Lowest insured rate | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TXHCA Healthcare, Harris Health, Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, St. Luke's Health | $232–$26,406 | $1,679 | $174 | 45 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TXBaylor Scott & White Health, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern Medical Center | $1,423–$2,750 | $1,875 | $256 | 41 |
| Phoenix, AZBanner Health, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Valleywise Health | $227–$5,484 | $765 | $143 | 28 |
| Austin, TXAscension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health, CHRISTUS Health | $521–$2,198 | $1,549 | $199 | 15 |
Bars use a log scale. The coral bar runs from the lowest to the highest published cash price; the blue dot marks the typical insured rate.
Lowest published cash prices
- $227 — Banner Boswell Medical Center (Banner Health)
- $229 — Banner Ironwood Medical Center (Banner Health)
- $232 — Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital (Harris Health)
- $232 — Harris Health Lyndon B Johnson Hospital (Harris Health)
- $244 — Banner Del Webb Medical Center (Banner Health)
What this price covers
These are hospital charges for CPT code 72148. Doctors who are not hospital employees — for imaging, usually the radiologist — can bill separately. Before you schedule, ask for a Good Faith Estimate: if you are uninsured, federal law entitles you to one in writing. Methodology.