Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Alabama
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alabama's healthcare costs run approximately 8% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and concentrated insurer market dominated by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Patients seeking a Lower Back MRI typically pay between $58 and $452, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $157 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 2,380 active Lower Back MRI providers across the state, patients can browse all available options to find affordable care in Alabama.
Average
$223
Median
$157
Lowest
$59
Highest
$452
Providers
2,384
42% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Alabama?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $88 | $253 | $811 | 2,663 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $53 | $163 | $479 | 2,672 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $71 | $202 | $460 | 2,711 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $48 | $139 | $332 | 2,695 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 72148 — MRI lumbar spine without contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 72148 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 72148 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri lumbar spine. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Lower Back MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama
Alabama's healthcare costs run about 8% below the national average, largely due to lower operating expenses and less competitive insurance markets compared to other states. The state's rural geography and concentration of specialists in major metropolitan areas create significant cost and access disparities between urban and rural regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Major cities like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville have abundant imaging facilities and competitive pricing, while rural counties often have limited options requiring patients to travel for specialized MRI services. This geographic disparity can drive up total costs when factoring in travel expenses and time off work for rural residents.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging in Alabama typically costs more than independent radiology centers due to higher facility fees and administrative overhead. Major health systems like UAB Medicine and Baptist Health dominate urban markets, while smaller independent practices often offer more competitive pricing in suburban areas.
Insurance Market Competition in Alabama
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama's dominant market position results in less competitive pressure on negotiated rates compared to states with more insurer competition. This market concentration can lead to higher negotiated rates at some facilities, though the overall cost structure remains below national averages due to Alabama's lower cost of living.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama
With over 2,380 active Lower Back MRI providers statewide, Alabama has adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic mismatch between supply and demand contributes to longer wait times and potentially higher costs in underserved areas, while urban competition helps keep prices reasonable.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Lower Back MRI Costs in Alabama
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Alabama without insurance?
Does Alabama Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Alabama?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Alabama?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Alabama?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 72148)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,925 |
| 2 | Montana Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,097 |
| 3 | Washington Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,095 |
| 4 | Idaho Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,068 |
| 5 | North Dakota Range: $145 – $2,450 | $987 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $2,450 | $969 |
| 7 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,477 | $577 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $69 – $949 | $416 |
| 9 | Nevada Range: $102 – $750 | $400 |
| 10 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $577 | $373 |
| 11 | Louisiana Range: $60 – $702 | $372 |
| 12 | Massachusetts Range: $74 – $590 | $344 |
| 13 | Maine Range: $116 – $659 | $344 |
| 14 | New Mexico Range: $62 – $720 | $323 |
| 15 | Wyoming Range: $65 – $663 | $320 |
| 16 | Nebraska Range: $129 – $477 | $310 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $65 – $663 | $305 |
| 18 | Oregon Range: $88 – $447 | $301 |
| 19 | Utah Range: $65 – $603 | $298 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $142 – $368 | $293 |
| 21 | West Virginia Range: $79 – $418 | $289 |
| 22 | New Hampshire Range: $85 – $579 | $288 |
| 23 | North Carolina Range: $72 – $572 | $285 |
| 24 | Iowa Range: $85 – $513 | $284 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $76 – $553 | $271 |
| 26 | Indiana Range: $64 – $554 | $269 |
| 27 | Vermont Range: $63 – $583 | $267 |
| 28 | Rhode Island Range: $65 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | District of Columbia Range: $59 – $527 | $259 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $67 – $527 | $258 |
| 31 | Tennessee Range: $72 – $499 | $253 |
| 32 | Virginia Range: $49 – $553 | $253 |
| 33 | Kentucky Range: $64 – $516 | $249 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $71 – $502 | $244 |
| 35 | New York Range: $53 – $529 | $243 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $527 | $238 |
| 37 | South Carolina Range: $63 – $465 | $229 |
| 38 | Alabama Range: $59 – $452 | $223 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $61 – $473 | $222 |
| 40 | Texas Range: $65 – $447 | $220 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $52 – $459 | $218 |
| 42 | Missouri Range: $76 – $415 | $218 |
| 43 | Maryland Range: $29 – $447 | $217 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $49 – $457 | $214 |
| 45 | California Range: $72 – $470 | $213 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $58 – $447 | $213 |
| 47 | Delaware Range: $66 – $363 | $211 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $456 | $206 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $72 – $380 | $205 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $473 | $189 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $65 – $356 | $181 |