Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in South Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Carolina's healthcare market operates at roughly 1% below national averages, benefiting patients seeking specialized imaging services. Lower Back MRI patients typically pay between $62.95 and $465.28, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $158.18 across the state's 1,091 active providers. South Carolina maintains a robust network of Lower Back MRI specialists across both metropolitan areas like Charleston and Columbia, as well as rural communities throughout the Palmetto State.
Average
$229
Median
$158
Lowest
$63
Highest
$465
Providers
1,091
40% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in South Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $82 | $260 | $829 | 1,282 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $58 | $163 | $468 | 1,323 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $218 | $505 | 1,407 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $141 | $339 | 1,384 |
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 South Carolina
South Carolina's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below the national average, reflecting the state's mix of urban medical centers and rural communities. The Palmetto State's growing population and expanding healthcare infrastructure create varied pricing dynamics across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Charleston-North Charleston and Columbia metropolitan areas concentrate most specialized imaging services, while rural counties in the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions may have limited Lower Back MRI options. This geographic disparity often requires rural patients to travel to larger cities, though it can result in more competitive pricing in urban markets.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging at systems like MUSC Health and Prisma Health typically carries higher overhead costs than independent imaging centers. Freestanding radiology facilities throughout South Carolina often offer the same quality Lower Back MRI services at significantly reduced rates compared to hospital-affiliated locations.
Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina
BCBS SC maintains the largest market share statewide, with UHC and Aetna providing additional options primarily in metropolitan areas. This moderate level of competition helps keep negotiated rates reasonable, though rural areas may have fewer insurer choices, potentially affecting provider reimbursement rates and patient costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina
With 1,091 active Lower Back MRI providers serving approximately 5.2 million residents, South Carolina maintains adequate imaging capacity in most regions. This healthy provider-to-population ratio helps prevent significant cost inflation due to supply constraints, though specialist availability remains concentrated in the Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville-Spartanburg areas.
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 South Carolina
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in South Carolina without insurance?
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in South Carolina?
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 |