Hayward, California

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Hayward

Name: MRI Lumbar Spine Cost in Hayward, CA (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-24

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Hayward's healthcare market reflects the broader Bay Area landscape, with imaging services distributed across regional medical networks and independent facilities. Patients in Hayward pay between $80 and $368 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median of $354. Current data shows 0 active providers in the immediate area (0 individual practitioners, 0 group practices).

Low Estimate

$80

Median

$354

High Estimate

$368

Providers

National avg: $383Hayward: $354

8% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$55	$85	$654	9,774
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$75	$80	$505	10,126
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$70	$85	$672	15,496
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$25	$85	$521	10,242

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.

Full data methodology and glossary

HSA/FSA eligible

A doctor by your side, always

Prescriptions, lab orders, and referrals — instantly

Is It Cheaper to See a Lower Back MRI Near Hayward?

Nearby cities offer significantly lower costs than Hayward's $354 median, with Oakland at just $85 (14 miles away) and Fremont at $120 (9.7 miles away). San Francisco, despite being a major metropolitan center, also costs less at $148 median, located 19.9 miles from Hayward. These regional differences reflect varying provider networks and competition levels across Bay Area communities.

Cost comparison with nearby cities
City	Median Cost	vs. Hayward	Providers
Hayward (this city)	$354	—	10
Fremont9.7 mi away	$120	-$234	152
Oakland14 mi away	$85	-$269	148
San Francisco19.9 mi away	$148	-$206	173

Nearby cities sorted by distance. Delta = nearby city median minus Hayward median. Provider count reflects active providers for this specialty.

Lower Back MRI Visit Costs by City in California — 2026

Lower Back MRI visit costs across cities in California
City	Min Cost	Median Cost	Max Cost
Tustin	$80	$368	$699
Roseville	$80	$368	$1,976
Thousand Oaks	$102	$368	$565
Hayward (this city)	$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	$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.

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 Hayward

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

Without insurance, a Lower Back MRI visit in Hayward costs between $80 and $368, with a median price of $354. This represents the negotiated rates that insurance companies pay providers, giving you insight into fair market pricing. Self-pay patients may be able to negotiate rates within or below this range.

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

While specific new patient pricing data isn't available for Hayward, established patient visits for moderate complexity cases cost a median of $354. New patient consultations typically cost 20-40% more than follow-up visits due to the additional time needed for initial evaluation and medical history review.

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

Yes, nearby cities offer substantial savings compared to Hayward's $354 median cost. Oakland charges a median of just $85 (14 miles away), while Fremont costs $120 (9.7 miles away). Even San Francisco, at $148 median, costs $206 less than Hayward despite being a major metropolitan area.

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

Given the limited direct provider availability in Hayward, expanding your search to nearby Oakland or Fremont can offer both cost savings and more options. Look for providers who accept your insurance plan and have strong patient ratings, particularly those affiliated with major Bay Area health systems.

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

With insurance, your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan's copay, coinsurance, and deductible structure. Since the median negotiated rate is $354 in Hayward, a typical 20% coinsurance would result in about $71 out-of-pocket after your deductible is met.

How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in Hayward?

Current transparency data shows 0 active Lower Back MRI providers directly in Hayward. However, the broader Bay Area region offers extensive imaging services, with nearby Oakland and Fremont providing numerous options within a short drive. This regional approach is common for specialized imaging services.

View all California mri lumbar spine costs