Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Kentucky
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Kentucky's healthcare landscape reflects both urban accessibility in Louisville and Lexington and rural challenges across Appalachian counties, with Lower Back MRI services widely available through 190 active providers statewide. Patients typically pay between $64 and $516 for a Lower Back MRI, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $167 based on negotiated insurance rates. With Kentucky's expanded Medicaid program and competitive insurance market featuring Anthem, UHC, and Humana, patients can browse all Lower Back MRI providers across the Commonwealth to find affordable, in-network options.
Average
$249
Median
$167
Lowest
$64
Highest
$516
Providers
190
35% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Kentucky?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $83 | $270 | $842 | 225 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $176 | $492 | 218 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $75 | $211 | $576 | 300 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $117 | $335 | 473 |
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.
Why Lower Back MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Kentucky
Kentucky's healthcare costs run approximately 5% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and mixed urban-rural economy. The Commonwealth's geographic diversity creates distinct cost patterns between Louisville's competitive urban market and underserved rural counties in eastern Kentucky.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Louisville and Lexington offer concentrated imaging services with multiple competing facilities, while rural areas across Appalachian Kentucky often have limited options requiring longer travel times. This geographic disparity means rural patients may face higher indirect costs despite potentially lower facility fees, as they often must travel to regional centers for specialized imaging.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology clinics throughout Kentucky. Major health systems like Norton Healthcare in Louisville and UK HealthCare in Lexington often have higher overhead costs that translate to higher patient charges compared to standalone imaging centers.
Insurance Market Competition in Kentucky
Kentucky's moderate insurance market concentration with Anthem, UHC, and Humana creates reasonable competition for negotiated rates. The presence of multiple insurers prevents the monopolistic pricing seen in some states, though rural areas may have fewer plan options than urban markets like Jefferson or Fayette counties.
Physician Supply and Demand in Kentucky
With 190 active Lower Back MRI providers serving Kentucky's 4.5 million residents, the state maintains adequate radiologist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural counties. This supply imbalance can drive up costs in underserved areas while promoting competitive pricing in Louisville and Lexington markets.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Lower Back MRI Costs in Kentucky
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Kentucky without insurance?
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Kentucky?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Kentucky?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Kentucky?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 72148)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,925 |
| 2 | Montana Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,097 |
| 3 | Washington Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,095 |
| 4 | Idaho Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,068 |
| 5 | North Dakota Range: $145 – $2,450 | $987 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $2,450 | $969 |
| 7 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,477 | $577 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $69 – $949 | $416 |
| 9 | Nevada Range: $102 – $750 | $400 |
| 10 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $577 | $373 |
| 11 | Louisiana Range: $60 – $702 | $372 |
| 12 | Massachusetts Range: $74 – $590 | $344 |
| 13 | Maine Range: $116 – $659 | $344 |
| 14 | New Mexico Range: $62 – $720 | $323 |
| 15 | Wyoming Range: $65 – $663 | $320 |
| 16 | Nebraska Range: $129 – $477 | $310 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $65 – $663 | $305 |
| 18 | Oregon Range: $88 – $447 | $301 |
| 19 | Utah Range: $65 – $603 | $298 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $142 – $368 | $293 |
| 21 | West Virginia Range: $79 – $418 | $289 |
| 22 | New Hampshire Range: $85 – $579 | $288 |
| 23 | North Carolina Range: $72 – $572 | $285 |
| 24 | Iowa Range: $85 – $513 | $284 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $76 – $553 | $271 |
| 26 | Indiana Range: $64 – $554 | $269 |
| 27 | Vermont Range: $63 – $583 | $267 |
| 28 | Rhode Island Range: $65 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | District of Columbia Range: $59 – $527 | $259 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $67 – $527 | $258 |
| 31 | Tennessee Range: $72 – $499 | $253 |
| 32 | Virginia Range: $49 – $553 | $253 |
| 33 | Kentucky Range: $64 – $516 | $249 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $71 – $502 | $244 |
| 35 | New York Range: $53 – $529 | $243 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $527 | $238 |
| 37 | South Carolina Range: $63 – $465 | $229 |
| 38 | Alabama Range: $59 – $452 | $223 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $61 – $473 | $222 |
| 40 | Texas Range: $65 – $447 | $220 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $52 – $459 | $218 |
| 42 | Missouri Range: $76 – $415 | $218 |
| 43 | Maryland Range: $29 – $447 | $217 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $49 – $457 | $214 |
| 45 | California Range: $72 – $470 | $213 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $58 – $447 | $213 |
| 47 | Delaware Range: $66 – $363 | $211 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $456 | $206 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $72 – $380 | $205 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $473 | $189 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $65 – $356 | $181 |