Illinois

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Illinois

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

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Illinois's healthcare market concentration around the Chicago metropolitan area creates significant cost variations for medical imaging services across the state. Lower Back MRI patients typically pay between $76 and $553, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $186 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 6,000 active Lower Back MRI providers statewide, Illinois offers extensive options for patients seeking spinal imaging services throughout both urban and rural regions.

Average

$271

Median

$186

Lowest

$76

Highest

$553

Providers

6,155

National avg: $383Illinois: $271

29% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$93	$317	$842	5,703
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$69	$221	$595	7,078
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$80	$289	$537	8,716
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$64	$167	$346	7,047

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 Illinois

Illinois healthcare costs run approximately 10% above the national average, driven largely by Chicago's concentration of academic medical centers and high operational expenses. The state's economic hub creates a two-tier market where downstate regions offer more affordable options compared to the expensive Chicagoland corridor.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Chicago and its suburbs contain the majority of Illinois's advanced MRI facilities, while rural counties often have limited imaging options requiring patients to travel significant distances. This geographic disparity creates cost pressures as rural patients may pay premium rates at the few available local facilities or incur additional travel expenses to reach urban centers.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Major health systems like Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and University of Chicago Medicine operate numerous hospital-based imaging centers with higher overhead costs reflected in pricing. Independent radiology groups throughout Illinois often provide identical MRI quality at substantially lower rates due to reduced administrative and facility expenses.

Insurance Market Competition in Illinois

The presence of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna creates moderate competition in urban markets, though rural areas may have limited insurer participation. This competitive dynamic in Chicago helps keep negotiated rates reasonable, while less competitive downstate markets may see higher or more variable pricing structures.

Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois

With over 6,000 active Lower Back MRI providers statewide, Illinois maintains adequate radiologist supply in metropolitan areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This abundance in urban centers helps control wait times and pricing, while rural shortages can drive up costs and extend scheduling delays for spinal imaging services.

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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 Illinois

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

Uninsured patients in Illinois typically pay between $76 and $553 for a Lower Back MRI, with a median cost of $186 based on negotiated insurance rates. Independent imaging centers often offer the lower end of this range, while hospital-based facilities may charge toward the higher end. Many facilities provide cash-pay discounts of 20-40% for patients paying upfront without insurance coverage.

Does Illinois Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?

Yes, Illinois expanded Medicaid covers Lower Back MRI when medically necessary with appropriate physician referral and clinical documentation. Patients must meet specific criteria such as persistent symptoms after conservative treatment or neurological deficits suggesting nerve compression. Prior authorization is typically required, and coverage extends to qualifying low-income adults under the expansion program.

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

Compare prices between independent radiology clinics and hospital-based imaging centers, as independents often charge 40-60% less for identical services. Ask about self-pay discounts if uninsured, and consider community health centers or federally qualified health centers that may offer sliding fee scales. Rural patients might find better rates by traveling to larger cities with more competitive markets.

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

Lower Back MRI is typically a one-time diagnostic imaging procedure rather than consultation-based care, so the $76-$553 range applies to the complete imaging study and interpretation. However, if you need to see a specialist to discuss results, initial consultations with spine specialists cost more than follow-up visits, though specific consultation pricing varies by provider and insurance coverage.

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

Yes, Lower Back MRI qualifies as an eligible medical expense for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when prescribed by a physician. You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay deductibles, copays, or the full cost if uninsured. Keep receipts and physician orders for documentation, as the IRS requires medical necessity for reimbursement.

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

Telemedicine can reduce overall costs by enabling remote consultation with specialists to determine if Lower Back MRI is necessary before ordering expensive imaging. Many Illinois spine specialists offer virtual follow-up appointments to discuss MRI results at lower cost than in-person visits. However, the actual MRI must still be performed at an imaging facility, so telemedicine mainly reduces associated consultation expenses rather than the imaging cost itself.

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