Stockton, California

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Stockton

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

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Stockton's healthcare market reflects the broader San Joaquin Valley region, with limited specialist availability compared to nearby metropolitan areas. Patients in Stockton pay between $70 and $888 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median of $111. The local market currently includes 0 active providers (0 individual practitioners, 0 group practices) based on available transparency data.

Low Estimate

$70

Median

$111

High Estimate

$888

Providers

National avg: $383Stockton: $111

71% 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

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

Comparing nearby options, Modesto offers Lower Back MRI visits at a median of $80, which is $31 less than Stockton's median of $111. Sacramento presents a higher-cost alternative at $144 median, $33 more than Stockton rates. Patients willing to travel 27 miles to Modesto may find more affordable options for their Lower Back MRI care.

Cost comparison with nearby cities
City	Median Cost	vs. Stockton	Providers
Stockton (this city)	$111	—	14
Modesto27.2 mi away	$80	-$31	15
Sacramento44.5 mi away	$144	+$33	73
Fremont47.5 mi away	$120	+$9	152

Nearby cities sorted by distance. Delta = nearby city median minus Stockton 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	$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 (this city)	$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 Stockton

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

Without insurance coverage, patients in Stockton pay a median of $111 for Lower Back MRI visits. Costs can range from as low as $70 to as high as $888 depending on the provider and complexity of the visit. Self-pay patients should contact multiple providers to compare rates and potential payment plans.

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

Follow-up visits for established patients (CPT 99214) have a median cost of $111 in Stockton based on available data. New patient consultations typically cost more due to additional time required for initial evaluations and medical history review. The specific premium varies by provider and visit complexity.

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

Yes, Modesto offers Lower Back MRI visits at a median of $80, which is $31 less than Stockton's $111 median. This represents a 28% cost savings for patients willing to travel 27 miles. However, Sacramento costs $33 more at a $144 median, making it a pricier alternative.

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

Start by reviewing providers within the $70 to $111 range, which represents below-median pricing in Stockton. Check patient reviews, board certifications, and insurance acceptance policies. Many providers offer payment plans or sliding fee scales for uninsured patients.

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

Insurance coverage significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs, though your specific payment depends on deductibles, copays, and plan design. With negotiated rates ranging from $70 to $888 in Stockton, most insured patients pay a fraction of these amounts. Contact your insurance provider to verify coverage details and in-network providers.

How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in Stockton?

Current transparency data shows 0 active Lower Back MRI providers in Stockton with published negotiated rates. This limited provider availability may reflect data reporting gaps rather than actual specialist shortages. Patients may need to consider nearby markets like Modesto or Sacramento for additional options.

View all California mri lumbar spine costs