Connecticut

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Connecticut

Name: MRI Lumbar Spine Cost in Connecticut (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Connecticut's healthcare costs run approximately 14% above the national average, reflecting the state's concentration of academic medical centers and high provider density along the I-95 corridor. For Lower Back MRI services, patients typically pay between $55 and $456, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $109 based on negotiated insurance rates. Connecticut has 884 active Lower Back MRI providers across hospital systems, imaging centers, and specialty clinics, giving patients substantial options when browsing providers throughout the state.

Average

$206

Median

$109

Lowest

$55

Highest

$456

Providers

884

National avg: $383Connecticut: $206

46% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$55	$178	$777	896
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$55	$105	$472	891
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$77	$251	$755	482
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$54	$93	$389	915

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

Why Lower Back MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Connecticut

Connecticut's healthcare costs run approximately 14% above the national average, driven by the state's high cost of living and concentration of prestigious medical institutions along the coastal corridor. The state's small geographic footprint creates accessibility advantages, though significant cost disparities exist between affluent southwestern counties and rural northeastern regions.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Connecticut's population concentrates heavily in the Hartford-New Haven corridor and Fairfield County, where multiple Lower Back MRI options exist within short distances. Rural areas in the northeast and northwest corners of the state have fewer imaging facilities, potentially requiring longer travel times but sometimes offering lower-cost alternatives to urban academic centers.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers at facilities like Yale New Haven Hospital and Hartford Hospital typically charge higher rates than independent imaging centers. The dominance of large health systems throughout Connecticut means many providers operate under hospital-based fee structures, contributing to the state's above-average imaging costs.

Insurance Market Competition in Connecticut

Connecticut's moderate insurance market concentration among Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare creates reasonably competitive negotiated rates for imaging services. The state's relatively small size allows these major insurers to maintain broad provider networks, giving patients good access to in-network Lower Back MRI facilities across most regions.

Physician Supply and Demand in Connecticut

With 884 active Lower Back MRI providers, Connecticut maintains adequate radiologist supply relative to its population of 3.6 million residents. This healthy provider-to-patient ratio helps contain wait times and provides competitive pricing pressure, though demand remains high due to the state's aging population and active lifestyle-related injuries.

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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 Connecticut

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

Without insurance, Lower Back MRI costs in Connecticut range from $55 to $456, with a median cost of $109 based on negotiated insurance rates. Self-pay patients may find different pricing structures, as many facilities offer cash discounts that can reduce costs by 10-30%. Independent imaging centers typically offer lower rates than hospital-based facilities for uninsured patients.

Does Connecticut Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?

Yes, Connecticut expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, providing comprehensive coverage for medically necessary Lower Back MRI studies. Coverage typically requires prior authorization and a physician's referral demonstrating medical necessity. Patients should verify their specific Medicaid managed care plan's requirements, as prior authorization processes may vary between HUSKY Health plans.

How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Connecticut?

Compare costs across multiple facility types, as independent imaging centers often charge less than hospital-based facilities. Ask about cash-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider community health centers that may offer sliding scale fees. Connecticut's small size makes it feasible to travel to lower-cost facilities in different regions if significant savings are available.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Lower Back MRI is an imaging study rather than a consultation, so the cost remains consistent at $55-$456 regardless of whether it's your first or subsequent scan. However, the radiologist interpretation and any necessary physician consultations to discuss results may have separate fees. Follow-up MRI studies for monitoring treatment progress use the same pricing structure as initial diagnostic studies.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Connecticut?

Yes, Lower Back MRI studies qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when recommended by a physician. These tax-advantaged accounts can cover the full cost including facility fees, radiologist interpretation, and any related consultation fees. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Connecticut?

While the MRI scan itself must be performed in person, telemedicine consultations can reduce overall costs by allowing remote discussions of results and follow-up care. Connecticut's strong telehealth infrastructure enables patients to consult with radiologists or referring physicians remotely, potentially saving on office visit fees. Some facilities offer virtual result consultations at lower rates than in-person appointments.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$181

$1,925

Office visit (CPT 72148)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	Alaska(AK) Range: $73 – $2,851	$1,925	$73	$2,851	361
2	Montana(MT) Range: $73 – $2,851	$1,097	$73	$2,851	350
3	Washington(WA) Range: $65 – $2,851	$1,095	$65	$2,851	5,422
4	Idaho(ID) Range: $65 – $2,851	$1,068	$65	$2,851	178
5	North Dakota(ND) Range: $145 – $2,450	$987	$145	$2,450	649
6	Minnesota(MN) Range: $88 – $2,450	$969	$88	$2,450	3,198
7	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $1,477	$577	$73	$1,477	6,596
8	Georgia(GA) Range: $69 – $949	$416	$69	$949	2,964
9	Nevada(NV) Range: $102 – $750	$400	$102	$750	2,567
10	Hawaii(HI) Range: $85 – $577	$373	$85	$577	99
11	Louisiana(LA) Range: $60 – $702	$372	$60	$702	1,176
12	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $74 – $590	$344	$74	$590	1,481
13	Maine(ME) Range: $116 – $659	$344	$116	$659	1,700
14	New Mexico(NM) Range: $62 – $720	$323	$62	$720	1,236
15	Wyoming(WY) Range: $65 – $663	$320	$65	$663	186
16	Nebraska(NE) Range: $129 – $477	$310	$129	$477	2,648
17	Colorado(CO) Range: $65 – $663	$305	$65	$663	1,437
18	Oregon(OR) Range: $88 – $447	$301	$88	$447	740
19	Utah(UT) Range: $65 – $603	$298	$65	$603	353
20	South Dakota(SD) Range: $142 – $368	$293	$142	$368	323
21	West Virginia(WV) Range: $79 – $418	$289	$79	$418	265
22	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $85 – $579	$288	$85	$579	3,684
23	North Carolina(NC) Range: $72 – $572	$285	$72	$572	2,593
24	Iowa(IA) Range: $85 – $513	$284	$85	$513	553
25	Illinois(IL) Range: $76 – $553	$271	$76	$553	6,155
26	Indiana(IN) Range: $64 – $554	$269	$64	$554	334
27	Vermont(VT) Range: $63 – $583	$267	$63	$583	341
28	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $65 – $527	$261	$65	$527	71
29	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $59 – $527	$259	$59	$527	331
30	Michigan(MI) Range: $67 – $527	$258	$67	$527	1,803
31	Tennessee(TN) Range: $72 – $499	$253	$72	$499	2,351
32	Virginia(VA) Range: $49 – $553	$253	$49	$553	3,167
33	Kentucky(KY) Range: $64 – $516	$249	$64	$516	190
34	Kansas(KS) Range: $71 – $502	$244	$71	$502	1,837
35	New York(NY) Range: $53 – $529	$243	$53	$529	32,161
36	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $55 – $527	$238	$55	$527	1,641
37	South Carolina(SC) Range: $63 – $465	$229	$63	$465	1,091
38	Alabama(AL) Range: $59 – $452	$223	$59	$452	2,384
39	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $61 – $473	$222	$61	$473	2,090
40	Texas(TX) Range: $65 – $447	$220	$65	$447	9,998
41	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $52 – $459	$218	$52	$459	7,247
42	Missouri(MO) Range: $76 – $415	$218	$76	$415	5,288
43	Maryland(MD) Range: $29 – $447	$217	$29	$447	4,003
44	Ohio(OH) Range: $49 – $457	$214	$49	$457	3,589
45	California(CA) Range: $72 – $470	$213	$72	$470	6,585
46	Mississippi(MS) Range: $58 – $447	$213	$58	$447	1,303
47	Delaware(DE) Range: $66 – $363	$211	$66	$363	187
48	Connecticut(CT) Range: $55 – $456	$206	$55	$456	884
49	Arkansas(AR) Range: $72 – $380	$205	$72	$380	133
50	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $473	$189	$35	$473	4,666
51	Arizona(AZ) Range: $65 – $356	$181	$65	$356	4,375