Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Michigan
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Michigan's healthcare market operates at costs roughly 3% below national averages, making Lower Back MRI services more affordable than many states. Patients typically pay between $67 and $527, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $181 across Michigan's 1,803 active Lower Back MRI providers. With expanded Medicaid coverage and strong insurer competition from BCBS Michigan, UHC, and Aetna, patients can browse all providers in Michigan to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.
Average
$258
Median
$181
Lowest
$67
Highest
$527
Providers
1,803
33% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Michigan?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $80 | $293 | $917 | 2,202 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $62 | $188 | $506 | 2,225 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $227 | $534 | 2,378 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $57 | $171 | $356 | 2,175 |
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 Michigan
Michigan's healthcare costs run approximately 3% below national averages, reflecting the state's moderate cost of living and competitive insurance market. The state's diverse geography spans from dense urban centers in Southeast Michigan to sparsely populated rural areas in the Upper Peninsula, creating significant cost and access variations.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids areas offer numerous imaging options with competitive pricing, while rural counties in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula may have limited providers requiring longer travel times. This geographic disparity often results in higher effective costs for rural patients due to transportation and time off work.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers in Michigan typically charge 40-60% more than independent radiology clinics for the same Lower Back MRI service. Major health systems like Henry Ford Health and Beaumont have significant overhead costs that are reflected in their pricing compared to standalone imaging centers.
Insurance Market Competition in Michigan
The presence of multiple major insurers including BCBS Michigan, UHC, and Aetna creates competitive negotiated rates that benefit patients through lower out-of-pocket costs. This competition is particularly strong in Southeast Michigan, while rural areas may have fewer insurer options and less competitive pricing.
Physician Supply and Demand in Michigan
With 1,803 active providers offering Lower Back MRI services, Michigan has adequate imaging capacity in most regions, helping maintain reasonable pricing and shorter wait times. However, subspecialty radiologists with spine imaging expertise are concentrated in major metropolitan areas, potentially affecting access to specialized interpretation services in rural regions.
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 Michigan
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Michigan without insurance?
Does Michigan Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Michigan?
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 Michigan?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Michigan?
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 |