Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in New Jersey
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
New Jersey's dense network of academic medical centers and specialty imaging facilities makes Lower Back MRI services widely accessible across the Garden State. Based on negotiated insurance rates from 7,247 active providers, patients typically pay between $52 and $459, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $144 for Lower Back MRI imaging. This extensive provider network spans from urban centers like Newark and Jersey City to suburban counties, giving patients multiple options to browse all Lower Back MRI providers in New Jersey for comparison shopping.
Average
$218
Median
$144
Lowest
$52
Highest
$459
Providers
7,247
43% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in New Jersey?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $63 | $230 | $830 | 7,290 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $47 | $144 | $466 | 7,266 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $64 | $235 | $558 | 6,647 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $41 | $132 | $371 | 7,333 |
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 New Jersey
New Jersey's healthcare costs run approximately 17% above national averages, reflecting the state's high cost of living and concentration of academic medical centers. The Garden State's small geographic footprint creates intense competition among imaging facilities, yet proximity to New York City's medical market influences pricing throughout northern counties.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
New Jersey's urban corridor from Newark to Trenton offers abundant Lower Back MRI options, while rural areas in the Pine Barrens and northwestern counties have fewer facilities. This geographic concentration means suburban residents often travel to urban centers for specialized imaging, affecting both access and cost considerations.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments at major systems like RWJBarnabas Health and Hackensack Meridian typically charge premium rates compared to independent radiology centers. Academic medical centers affiliated with Rutgers and other universities often command higher prices due to their teaching hospital status and advanced equipment investments.
Insurance Market Competition in New Jersey
Strong competition among Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare creates diverse negotiated rate structures for Lower Back MRI imaging. This competitive landscape benefits patients through varied plan options, though rate differences between insurers can create significant cost variations for the same imaging study.
Physician Supply and Demand in New Jersey
With 7,247 active Lower Back MRI providers, New Jersey maintains robust imaging capacity relative to its population density. This healthy provider supply helps moderate pricing pressure and reduces wait times, though demand remains high due to the state's aging population and active lifestyle-related injuries.
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 New Jersey
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in New Jersey without insurance?
Does New Jersey Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in New Jersey?
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 |