Lower back MRI cost in New York, NY
In New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, 82 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $241.72 to $8,007.00, with a median of $552.25. The lowest listed price is at Ocean Medical Center and 1 other hospital — $310.53 less than the median here. Across New York, the median is $1,307.22 at 111 hospitals.
- The median here, $552.25, is 71% below the US median of $1,903.81.
- That is 2.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($243.77).
- New York, NY has the lowest median of 2 metro areas in New York with at least 10 hospitals pricing this code.
- 16 of 82 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 82 facilities across 57 cities for code 72148, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 7, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 22, 2025 and Sep 28, 2026.
Lowest$241.72Ocean Medical Center + 1 more
Median$552.25half of hospitals charge less
Highest$8,007.00in this market
Difference33.1×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ.
median
Lowest $241.72Highest $8,007.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Medical Center lowest Brick, NJ · (732) 840-2200 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $241.72 | $3,887.00 | $740.47–$3,303.95 | 94% |
| JFK University Medical Center lowest Edison, NJ · (732) 321-7000 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $241.72 | $3,887.00 | $740.47–$3,303.95 | 94% |
| St Joseph's Hospital, Yonkers Yonkers, NY · (914) 378-7000 Mri lumbar spine w/o dye+2 more lines at this price File of Jul 13, 2026 · source file | $243.77 | — | $70.32–$3,726.80 | — |
| Newton Medical Center Newton, NJ · (973) 383-2121 MRI Spine Lumb WO+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $264.13 | $4,426.00 | — | 94% |
| Southern Ocean Medical Center Manahawkin, NJ · (609) 597-6011 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $264.17 | $4,439.00 | $799.02–$4,058.13 | 94% |
| Ocean Medical Center Brick, NJ · (732) 840-2200 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $264.17 | $4,439.00 | $360.39–$4,332.00 | 94% |
| Riverview Medical Center Red Bank, NJ · (732) 741-2700 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.55 | $4,439.00 | $360.39–$4,332.00 | 94% |
| Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune City, NJ · (732) 775-5500 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.55 | $3,887.00 | $360.39–$4,332.00 | 93% |
| Bayshore Medical Center Holmdel, NJ · (732) 739-5900 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.55 | $4,439.00 | $267.55–$321.06 | 94% |
| Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth Amboy, NJ · (732) 324-5000 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.78 | $4,439.00 | $378.00–$4,332.00 | 94% |
| JFK University Medical Center Edison, NJ · (732) 321-7000 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.78 | $3,887.00 | $625.81–$3,612.19 | 93% |
| Old Bridge Medical Center Old Bridge, NJ MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $267.78 | $4,439.00 | $378.00–$4,332.00 | 94% |
| Saint Marys Hospital Passaic, NJ · (973) 365-4300 Hc Mri, Lumbar Spine File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $282.00 | $3,572.26 | $225.66–$3,036.42 | 92% |
| Palisades Medical Center North Bergen, NJ · (201) 854-5000 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $284.66 | $4,439.00 | $378.00–$4,332.00 | 94% |
| Hackensack University Medical Center Hackensack, NJ · (551) 996-2000 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $284.66 | $3,887.00 | $699.66–$3,790.60 | 93% |
| Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center Bronx, NY · (718) 579-5000 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $819.34 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 65% |
| Bellevue Hospital Center New York, NY · (212) 561-4132 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| Elmhurst Hospital Center Broadway Elmhurst, NY · (718) 334-1141 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $819.34 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 65% |
| Queens Hospital Center Jamaica, NY · (718) 883-3000 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| Kings County Hospital Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 245-3901 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| South Brooklyn Health Brooklyn, NY · (718) 616-4834 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $819.34 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 65% |
| Jacobi Medical Center Bronx, NY · (718) 918-5000 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| Metropolitan Hospital Center New York, NY · (212) 423-6262 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $819.34 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 65% |
| Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 963-8100 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY · (212) 939-1000 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $819.34 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 65% |
| North Central Bronx Hospital Bronx, NY HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE(EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONT File of Sep 5, 2026 · source file | $286.04 | $1,593.18 | $1.00–$1,787.00 | 82% |
| Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center Montclair, NJ · (973) 429-6000 MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast File of Feb 12, 2026 · source file | $311.87 | $4,302.00 | $271.19–$5,101.92 | 93% |
| University Hospital Newark, NJ · (973) 972-4300 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL File of Aug 13, 2026 · source file | $319.78 | $1,475.29 | $278.07–$1,401.53 | 78% |
| Morristown Medical Center Morristown, NJ · (973) 971-5450 MRI Spine Lumb WO+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $322.54 | $4,469.00 | — | 93% |
| Overlook Medical Center Summit, NJ · (908) 522-2000 MRI Spine Lumb WO+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $322.54 | $4,390.00 | — | 93% |
| CentraState Medical Center Freehold Township, NJ · (732) 294-7012 MRI Spine Lumb WO+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $322.54 | $753.00 | — | 57% |
| Chilton Medical Center Pompton Plains, NJ · (973) 831-5000 MRI Spine Lumb WO+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $322.54 | $9,385.00 | — | 97% |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway Rahway, NJ · (732) 381-4200 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $368.16 | $2,854.00 | $264.17–$3,591.00 | 87% |
| Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Brooklyn, NY HC MRI LUMB SPINE W/O CONTRAST File of Aug 1, 2026 · source file | $384.88 | $675.00 | $259.12–$865.98 | 43% |
| Interfaith Medical Center Brooklyn, NY HC MRI LUMB SPINE W/O CONTRAST File of Aug 1, 2026 · source file | $384.88 | $675.00 | $259.12–$865.98 | 43% |
| Brookdale Hospital Medical Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 240-5966 HC MRI LUMB SPINE W/O CONTRAST File of Aug 1, 2026 · source file | $384.88 | $675.00 | $259.12–$865.98 | 43% |
| Englewood Health Englewood, NJ · (201) 894-3000 MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast Material File of Feb 2, 2026 · source file | $414.60 | $4,146.00 | $303.07–$3,316.80 | 90% |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset Somerville, NJ · (908) 685-2200 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $482.32 | $2,854.00 | $107.97–$2,917.00 | 83% |
| St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center Smithtown, NY · (631) 862-3000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON File of Feb 19, 2026 · source file | $500.00 | $4,232.00 | $16.59–$6,493.00 | 88% |
| Trinitas Regional Medical Center Elizabeth, NJ · (908) 994-5000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $535.69 | $2,854.00 | $101.97–$1,819.99 | 81% |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center West Islip, NY · (631) 376-3000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON File of Feb 19, 2026 · source file | $552.25 | $4,232.00 | $280.32–$5,136.00 | 87% |
| Mercy Medical Center Rockville Centre, NY · (516) 705-2525 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON File of Feb 19, 2026 · source file | $552.25 | $4,232.00 | $280.32–$6,288.00 | 87% |
| St. Francis Hospital Roslyn, NY HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON File of Feb 19, 2026 · source file | $552.25 | $4,232.00 | $280.32–$4,232.00 | 87% |
| Chsli St Joseph Hospital Bethpage, NY · (516) 759-6000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON File of Feb 19, 2026 · source file | $552.25 | $4,232.00 | $280.32–$4,232.00 | 87% |
| Clara Maass Medical Center Belleville, NJ · (973) 450-2000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $567.66 | $2,854.00 | $271.19–$2,724.42 | 80% |
| Community Medical Center Toms River, NJ · (732) 557-8000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $591.91 | $2,854.00 | $264.17–$2,611.12 | 79% |
| Jersey City Medical Center Jersey City, NJ · (201) 915-2000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $593.06 | $2,854.00 | $131.96–$3,317.00 | 79% |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ · (973) 926-7000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $594.48 | $2,854.00 | $104.97–$3,317.00 | 79% |
| Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ · (973) 322-5000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $604.76 | $2,854.00 | $271.19–$3,317.00 | 79% |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ · (732) 828-3000 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $608.75 | $2,854.00 | $197.80–$2,374.52 | 79% |
| BronxCare Hospital Center - Fulton Campus Bronx, NY · (212) 588-7000 LUMBAR SPINE MRI WITHOUT CONT File of May 5, 2026 · source file | $611.64 | $611.64 | $102.35–$752.86 | — |
| Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center - Concourse Division Bronx, NY · (212) 588-7000 LUMBAR SPINE MRI WITHOUT CONT File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $611.64 | $611.64 | $102.35–$752.86 | — |
| Monmouth Medical Center Long Branch, NJ · (732) 222-5200 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 4, 2026 · source file | $624.45 | $2,854.00 | $267.55–$3,317.00 | 78% |
| Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Lakewood, NJ · (732) 363-1900 HC MRI L-Spine W/O Con File of Mar 3, 2026 · source file | $678.39 | $2,854.00 | $264.17–$3,317.00 | 76% |
| The Valley Hospital Paramus, NJ · (201) 447-8000 MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTR File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $877.80 | $1,463.00 | $211.94–$1,097.25 | 40% |
| Flushing Hospital Medical Center Flushing, NY · (718) 670-5000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Mar 25, 2026 · source file | $992.00 | $992.00 | $116.15–$2,507.20 | — |
| Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Jamaica, NY · (718) 262-6000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Mar 25, 2026 · source file | $992.00 | $992.00 | $116.15–$2,456.00 | — |
| NYU Langone – Tisch Hospital New York, NY · (212) 263-7300 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,133.75 | $5,967.13 | $130.72–$7,272.66 | 81% |
| NYU Langone – Orthopedic Hospital New York, NY HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,133.75 | $5,967.13 | $130.72–$7,272.66 | 81% |
| NYU Langone Brooklyn, NY HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,133.75 | $5,967.13 | $130.72–$7,272.66 | 81% |
| NYU Langone Hospital - Suffolk Patchogue, NY · (631) 654-7100 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,381.81 | $7,272.66 | $130.72–$7,272.66 | 81% |
| NYU Langone Mineola, NY HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,381.81 | $7,272.66 | $130.72–$7,272.66 | 81% |
| Nassau University Medical Center East Meadow, NY · (516) 572-0123 Mri Spine Lumbar W/O Contrast File of Oct 28, 2025 · source file | $1,621.55 | $2,316.50 | $133.47–$2,316.50 | 30% |
| Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY · (718) 920-4321 CHG MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL+1 more line at this price File of Sep 28, 2026 · source file | $1,965.27 | $3,005.00 | $61.78–$1,803.00 | 35% |
| Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital Mount Vernon, NY · (914) 664-8000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W O DYE File of Sep 28, 2026 · source file | $2,908.10 | $4,474.00 | $199.36–$4,600.83 | 35% |
| St Johns Episcopal Hospital Far Rockaway, NY · (718) 869-7000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Apr 7, 2026 · source file | $3,069.93 | $3,611.68 | $247.21–$2,523.00 | 15% |
| Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 283-6000 MRI L SPINE W/O CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,512.00 | $3,512.00 | — | — |
| Mount Sinai Queens Long Island, NY HC MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,523.50 | $3,915.00 | — | 10% |
| Mount Sinai Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY HC MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,523.50 | $3,915.00 | — | 10% |
| Mount Sinai Morningside New York, NY HC MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,523.50 | $3,915.00 | — | 10% |
| The Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY · (212) 241-7981 HC MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,523.50 | $3,915.00 | — | 10% |
| University Hospital of Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY · (718) 270-1000 72148 - MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Apr 22, 2025 · source file | $3,545.00 | $3,545.00 | $131.00–$2,143.00 | — |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Suffern, NY · (914) 368-5000 MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast File of Jun 29, 2026 · source file | $4,342.00 | $4,342.00 | $297.84–$14,688.59 | — |
| St Johns Riverside Hospital Park Care Pavillion Yonkers, NY · (914) 964-4444 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Mar 27, 2026 · source file | $5,271.70 | $6,202.00 | $251.92–$3,641.00 | 15% |
| Westchester Medical Center Valhalla, NY · (914) 493-7000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jul 28, 2026 · source file | $6,405.00 | $6,405.00 | $297.84–$6,405.00 | — |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases New York, NY HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $6,444.00 | $6,444.00 | $517.21–$5,799.60 | — |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases West Harrison, NY HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $6,444.00 | $6,444.00 | $517.21–$5,799.60 | — |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Basking Ridge, NJ HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $6,444.00 | $6,444.00 | $1,719.00–$5,799.60 | — |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Middletown, NJ HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $6,444.00 | $6,444.00 | $1,719.00–$5,799.60 | — |
| Brooklyn Hospital Center at Downtown Campus Brooklyn, NY · (718) 250-8000 MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $6,499.20 | $6,499.20 | $237.10–$3,157.00 | — |
| Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Southampton, NY MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST File of Jun 17, 2026 · source file | $7,029.42 | $7,029.42 | $296.38–$2,754.00 | — |
| Stony Brook University Hospital Stony Brook, NY · (631) 444-4000 MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $7,030.00 | $7,030.00 | $296.38–$4,255.00 | — |
| Brooklyn Hospital Center at Downtown Campus Brooklyn, NY · (718) 250-8000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $7,440.93 | $7,440.93 | $237.10–$3,157.00 | — |
| Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Southampton, NY MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jun 17, 2026 · source file | $7,521.48 | $7,521.48 | $296.38–$2,754.00 | — |
| Stony Brook University Hospital Stony Brook, NY · (631) 444-4000 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $7,522.00 | $7,522.00 | $296.38–$4,255.00 | — |
| Hudson Regional Hospital Secaucus, NJ · (201) 392-3200 MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast File of Sep 23, 2026 · source file | $7,976.60 | $7,976.60 | $368.21–$15,051.84 | — |
| Saint Peters University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ · (732) 745-8600 MRI SPINE LUMBAR WO CONTRAST+1 more line at this price File of Nov 19, 2025 · source file | $8,007.00 | $8,267.00 | $224.00–$8,267.00 | 3% |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $241.72, median $552.25, highest $8,007.00 — a 33.1× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 33 facilities here, median $1,133.75. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 60 of 72 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 9 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What lower back MRI is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Lower back MRI explained.