Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 62 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $372.00 to $9,654.00, with a median of $2,740.00. The lowest listed price is at Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet and 2 other hospitals — $2,368.00 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $4,033.80 at 114 hospitals.
- The median here, $2,740.00, is about the same as the US median of $2,750.28.
- That is 7.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($356.43).
- 11 of 62 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 62 facilities across 44 cities for code 72158, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 10, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 1, 2025 and Nov 6, 2026.
Lowest$372.00Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet + 2 more
Median$2,740.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$9,654.00in this market
Difference26.0×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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
median
Lowest $372.00Highest $9,654.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet lowest Joliet, IL · (815) 725-7133 LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONTRAST - 72158 - 61000310+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $372.00 | $5,768.00 | $219.25–$5,768.00 | 94% |
| Saint Francis Hospital lowest Evanston, IL · (847) 316-4000 HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $372.00 | $4,336.00 | $215.12–$3,598.88 | 91% |
| Mercy Medical Center lowest Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONTRAST File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $372.00 | $6,604.00 | $219.25–$6,604.00 | 94% |
| Roseland Community Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 995-3000 MRI scan of lower spinal canal before and after contrast File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $510.96 | $942.00 | $347.69–$1,036.20 | 46% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 MRI LUMBAR SP W&WO CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $624.40 | $892.00 | $292.81–$750.00 | 30% |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 MRI Spine Lumbar; W&W/O Contrast File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $887.12 | $2,478.00 | $619.50–$1,982.40 | 64% |
| MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL · (708) 783-9100 MR Scan Spine Lumb-W/WO C File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,002.06 | $5,274.00 | $1,002.06–$7,304.49 | 81% |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 MR Scan Spine Lumb-W/WO C File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,002.06 | $5,274.00 | $2,436.59–$3,850.02 | 81% |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 MRI scan of lower spinal canal before and after contrast File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $1,205.22 | $4,304.36 | $600.00–$4,519.58 | 72% |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 MR Scan Spine Lumb-W/WO C File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,213.02 | $5,274.00 | $346.22–$1,260.85 | 77% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 MRI Spine Lumbar; W&W/O Contrast File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,322.52 | $6,209.00 | $369.11–$4,656.75 | 79% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,350.00 | $5,400.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,350.00 | $5,400.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, IL · (708) 352-1200 HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,350.00 | $5,400.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL · (630) 856-9000 HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,350.00 | $5,400.00 | — | 75% |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W / WO CONT File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,430.88 | $4,336.00 | $244.91–$2,867.00 | 67% |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 MRI Spine Lumbar; W&W/O Contrast File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,601.92 | $6,209.00 | $6,209.00 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Dyer Dyer, IN · (219) 865-2141 MRI Spine Lumbar; W&W/O Contrast File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $1,676.43 | $6,209.00 | $369.11–$4,656.75 | 73% |
| Morris Hospital Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 MRI scan of lower spinal canal before and after contrast File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $1,713.07 | $7,120.00 | $1,000.00–$7,333.60 | 76% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 MRI Spine Lumbar w/ + w/o Contrast+1 more line at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $1,951.05 | $5,738.39 | $361.11–$3,729.95 | 66% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITH/WITHOUT DYE+1 more line at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,990.00 | $3,980.00 | $542.10–$3,184.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITH/WITHOUT DYE+1 more line at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,990.00 | $3,980.00 | $542.10–$3,184.00 | 50% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 MRI Spine Lumbar w/ + w/o Contrast+1 more line at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $1,999.92 | $5,882.12 | $361.11–$3,823.38 | 66% |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 MRI scan of lower spinal canal before and after contrast File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,088.50 | $4,177.00 | $373.86–$4,177.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD W/WO DYE+2 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,200.00 | $4,400.00 | $542.10–$3,581.60 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITH/WITHOUT DYE+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,320.00 | $4,640.00 | $546.10–$3,712.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 MR L SPINE W/WO DYE+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,470.00 | $4,940.00 | $542.10–$3,952.00 | 50% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 MRI Spine Lumbar WWO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,529.36 | $9,368.00 | $328.54–$7,869.12 | 73% |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITH/WITHOUT DYE+1 more line at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,665.00 | $5,330.00 | $542.10–$4,264.00 | 50% |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR L SPINE W/WO DYE+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,665.00 | $5,330.00 | $542.10–$5,191.42 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO/W CON+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $2,740.00 | $5,480.00 | $542.10–$4,877.20 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 MR L SPINE W/WO DYE+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,740.00 | $5,480.00 | $542.10–$4,877.20 | 50% |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO/W CON+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,875.00 | $5,750.00 | $546.10–$4,600.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 MR L SPINE W/WO DYE File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $2,920.00 | $5,840.00 | $542.10–$5,256.00 | 50% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL MRI Lumbar Spine W&W/O Contr File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $3,250.65 | $5,001.00 | $675.14–$2,730.55 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL MRI Lumbar Spine W&W/O Contr File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $3,250.65 | $5,001.00 | $675.14–$2,730.55 | 35% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 MRI LS SPINE W/WO CONTRAST File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $3,289.07 | $5,481.79 | $178.07–$5,481.79 | 40% |
| Jackson Park Hospital Foundation Chicago, IL · (773) 947-7500 MRI LUMBAR PLEXUS WO W CONTRAST+1 more line at this price File of Dec 26, 2025 · source file | $4,095.57 | $5,119.46 | — | 20% |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Mri Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,397.00 | $4,397.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,116.18–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,304.46–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $463.96–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,230.49–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,297.73–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital Sandwich, IL · (815) 786-8484 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,277.56–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,001.88–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,706.80 | $6,724.00 | $1,075.84–$6,724.00 | 30% |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard Harvard, IL · (815) 943-5431 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONTRAST File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $4,878.15 | $6,504.20 | — | 25% |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H MR SPINE LUMBAR W AND WO CONTRAST File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $5,252.80 | $7,504.00 | $1,275.68–$7,128.80 | 30% |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL HB MRI LUMBAR SPINE W&W/O CONTR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $5,628.00 | $5,628.00 | — | — |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 HB MRI LUMBAR SPINE W&W/O CONTR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $5,628.00 | $5,628.00 | — | — |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 HB MRI LUMBAR SPINE W&W/O CONTR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $5,628.00 | $5,628.00 | — | — |
| Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Crown Point, IN · (312) 755-4706 HC MRI, SPNL CANAL & CONTENTS, W/OUT CNTRST MAT, FOLLOWED BY CNTRST MAT(S) & FURTHER SEQU; LUMBAR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $6,679.00 | $6,679.00 | — | — |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Mri, Spnl Canal & Contents, W/Out Cntrst Mat, Followed By Cntrst Mat(S) & Further Sequ; Lumbar File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $6,679.00 | $6,679.00 | — | — |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 MRI L-Spine WO/W Cont File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $6,900.60 | $9,858.00 | $367.29–$8,773.62 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 MRI L-Spine WO/W Cont File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $6,900.60 | $9,858.00 | $367.29–$8,773.62 | 30% |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT AND WITH CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $6,934.00 | $6,934.00 | — | — |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT AND WITH CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $6,934.00 | $6,934.00 | — | — |
| Mercyhealth Crystal Lake Hospital & Medical Center Crystal Lake, IL · (792) 220-5500 HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONTRAST File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $7,158.62 | $9,544.82 | — | 25% |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 MR-LUMB SPINE WWO File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $8,738.12 | $8,738.12 | $303.53–$1,345.00 | — |
| Shriners Childrens - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 622-5400 MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O & W/DYE File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $9,020.70 | $9,020.70 | $269.47–$1,797.75 | — |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Mri, Spnl Canal & Contents, W/Out Cntrst Mat, Followed By Cntrst Mat(S) & Further Sequ; Lumbar File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $9,654.00 | $9,654.00 | — | — |
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 $372.00, median $2,740.00, highest $9,654.00 — a 26.0× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 39 facilities here, median $2,740.00. 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 42 of 46 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 2 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 with contrast is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Lower back MRI with contrast explained.