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By Jayant Panwar, Healthcare Data AnalystUpdated April 5, 2026Editorial policy
Disclaimer: This page provides cost comparison data sourced from insurer Transparency in Coverage files. It is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.Learn about our data methodology.
Castro Valley, California

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Castro Valley

Castro Valley's healthcare market currently shows limited Lower Back MRI provider availability within city limits. Patients in Castro Valley pay between $45 and $108 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median of $80. The area has 0 active providers (0 individual practitioners, 0 group practices) based on current insurance network data.

Cost Summary for Lower Back MRI in Castro Valley

Low Estimate

$45

Median

$80

High Estimate

$108

Providers

10

National avg: $383Castro Valley: $80

79% below national average

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 72148MRI 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.

Lower Back MRI Visit Costs by City in California2026

Lower Back MRI visit costs across cities in California
CityMin CostMedian CostMax Cost
Tustin$80$368$699
Roseville$80$368$1,976
Thousand Oaks$102$368$565
Hayward$80$354$368
Travis Afb$65$249$599
South Lake Tahoe$149$225$669
La Jolla$79$216$543
West Hollywood$80$206$712
San Ramon$62$197$381
Santa Monica$63$177$652
Beverly Hills$56$177$501
Duarte$80$173$1,243
Loma Linda$74$168$461
San Leandro$75$156$442
Morgan Hill$77$155$340
Los Angeles$54$154$501
San Francisco$71$148$447
San Diego$73$148$553
Sacramento$65$144$527
Santa Rosa$78$133$387
Santa Clara$80$129$356
Anaheim$65$128$408
Torrance$66$125$374
Santa Barbara$51$124$409
Merced$65$123$798
Fremont$80$120$368
Pleasanton$80$120$368
Los Alamitos$80$120$406
Los Altos$67$113$447
San Jose$80$111$340
Madera$80$111$160
Fresno$65$111$1,223
Mountain View$80$111$368
Stockton$70$111$888
Milpitas$111$111$340
Clovis$65$111$188
Riverside$69$103$525
Bakersfield$10$96$431
San Mateo$80$96$570
Mission Viejo$54$96$431
Newport Beach$67$89$435
Oakland$71$85$502
Walnut Creek$80$85$474
Berkeley$54$85$149
Livermore$51$85$302
Stanford$80$80$356
Palo Alto$80$80$299
Irvine$68$80$373
Redwood City$65$80$221
Menlo Park$80$80$188
Costa Mesa$80$80$80
Sunnyvale$80$80$340
Modesto$73$80$340
Alameda$80$80$120
Laguna Hills$35$80$347
Fountain Valley$60$80$181
Fullerton$64$80$385
Burlingame$80$80$1,052
Emeryville$80$80$80
Castro Valley (this city)$45$80$108

Costs reflect self-pay estimates based on insurer-negotiated rates. Insured patients may pay significantly less depending on plan type, deductible status, and network tier.

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in California?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
MRI Brain

MRI of the brain with and without contrast

70553$55$85$6549,774
MRI Knee

MRI of the knee without contrast

73721$75$80$50510,126
CT Abdomen & Pelvis

CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast

74177$70$85$67215,496
CT Chest

CT scan of the chest with contrast

71260$25$85$52110,242
JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Lower Back MRI Costs in Castro Valley

What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Castro Valley without insurance?

Self-pay patients in Castro Valley can expect to pay between $45 and $108 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median cost of $80. This represents significant savings compared to the national median of $272. The actual cost depends on the complexity of your visit and the specific provider you choose.

How much more does a new patient consultation cost compared to a follow-up in Castro Valley?

New patient consultations typically cost more than follow-up visits because they require longer appointment times for medical history review and initial assessment. However, specific pricing data for new patient visits (CPT 99203 and 99204) is not currently available in Castro Valley's network data. Follow-up visits for established patients average $80 in the area.

Are there lower-cost Lower Back MRI options in cities near Castro Valley?

Castro Valley already offers some of the most competitive Lower Back MRI pricing in the Bay Area region, with a median of $80 compared to nearby cities like Hayward at $354 or Campbell at $340. You may find similar rates in areas like Pasadena ($209 median) or West Hollywood ($206 median), though these require longer travel distances.

How do I find a highly rated, affordable Lower Back MRI in Castro Valley?

With 0 active providers currently showing in Castro Valley's insurance networks, patients typically need to expand their search to nearby cities. Look for providers in the $45-$108 range who accept your insurance plan and have strong patient reviews. Consider nearby areas with established Lower Back MRI networks for the best combination of cost and quality.

What should I expect to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Castro Valley with insurance?

Insurance coverage significantly affects your out-of-pocket costs, with most patients paying only their copay or coinsurance amount. Since Castro Valley providers charge between $45 and $108, your actual cost depends on your specific insurance plan's coverage terms. Contact your insurer to verify coverage and estimate your portion of the $80 median visit cost.

How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in Castro Valley?

Current insurance network data shows 0 active Lower Back MRI providers within Castro Valley city limits. This includes both individual practitioners and group practices. Patients typically need to consider providers in nearby cities for in-network Lower Back MRI services.

Find an Affordable Lower Back MRI in Castro Valley — Powered by AI

Finding the right Lower Back MRI provider in Castro Valley requires comparing costs, insurance coverage, and quality ratings across the region. Our AI can help you identify the most affordable, highly-rated options that accept your specific insurance plan and meet your scheduling needs.

MRI Lumbar Spine in Other California Cities
View all California mri lumbar spine costs
JP

Jayant Panwar

CEO & Healthcare Data Analyst, Momentary Labs

Last updated: April 5, 2026

About This Data

Cost data sourced from Transparency in Coverage (TiC) machine-readable files published by UnitedHealthcare as required by the CMS Price Transparency Rule. These are actual negotiated rates between insurers and providers — not estimates.

Prices shown are for MRI lumbar spine without contrast (CPT 72148) in Castro Valley, California.

Actual out-of-pocket costs depend on your insurance plan, deductible, coinsurance, and services received. This is not medical advice.

About this page

Data source: UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files, CPT 72148, Castro Valley, California providers. Rates represent in-network negotiated amounts and may vary by plan type.

Editorial policy: Momentary Labs does not accept payment from providers, hospitals, or insurers to influence cost rankings or editorial content. Read our full editorial policy.

Corrections: If you believe any cost figure or clinical information on this page is inaccurate, please report it here. We review all submissions within 5 business days.