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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.
Fullerton, California

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Fullerton

Fullerton's healthcare market shows competitive pricing for imaging services, with patients paying between $64 and $385 for a Lower Back MRI visit and a median cost of $80. The city currently has 0 active providers offering this service (0 individual practitioners and 0 group practices) based on available insurance contract data.

Cost Summary for Lower Back MRI in Fullerton

Low Estimate

$64

Median

$80

High Estimate

$385

Providers

12

National avg: $383Fullerton: $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 (this city)$64$80$385
Burlingame$80$80$1,052
Emeryville$80$80$80
Castro Valley$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 Fullerton

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

Without insurance, Lower Back MRI visits in Fullerton range from $64 to $385, with a median cost of $80. This represents the negotiated rates that insurance companies pay providers, which often serve as a baseline for self-pay pricing discussions.

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

While specific new patient pricing data is not available for Fullerton, established patient follow-up visits (99214) cost a median of $80. New patient consultations typically cost 20-40% more than follow-up appointments due to additional time required for initial evaluation and history taking.

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

Fullerton's median cost of $80 is actually among the lowest in the region. Nearby Pasadena has a median of $209, while La Jolla shows $216, making Fullerton a cost-effective choice for Lower Back MRI services in Southern California.

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

Start by requesting cost estimates within Fullerton's $64-$385 range from providers in your insurance network. Compare patient satisfaction ratings, board certifications, and proximity to your location when making your selection.

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

With insurance, your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan's copay, deductible, and coinsurance structure. Given Fullerton's negotiated rates of $64-$385, most patients with insurance pay significantly less than the full amount.

How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in Fullerton?

Currently, 0 providers are tracked in our insurance contract database for Fullerton. This may indicate limited local availability, so patients often consider providers in nearby cities like Pasadena or other Orange County locations.

Find an Affordable Lower Back MRI in Fullerton — Powered by AI

Get personalized cost estimates for Lower Back MRI services in Fullerton based on your specific insurance plan and provider preferences. Our AI assistant can help you compare options and find the most affordable, high-quality care in your area.

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 Fullerton, 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, Fullerton, 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.