How much does Lower back MRI (lumbar spine) cost in Seattle?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $436 at Harborview Medical Center to $2,667 at Seattle Children's Hospital, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes. Several hospitals publish discounted cash prices below the rates insurers negotiate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the self-pay price.

Why do prices differ so much between hospitals?

Each hospital negotiates rates separately with each insurer, and hospitals in the same health system usually share one contract. The same procedure with the same insurer can cost several times more across town.

Costs · Imaging · Lower back MRI (lumbar spine) · Seattle · code 72148

How much does a lower back MRI (lumbar spine) cost in Seattle?

MRI scan of the lower spine without contrast — the usual test for chronic back pain or sciatica. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 23 Seattle-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$436

lowest median negotiated rate

Harborview Medical Center

$2,483

highest (adult hospitals)

EvergreenHealth Monroe

5.7×

price spread

same procedure, same metro

Rates shown

Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt

cash (self-pay) price

Hospital	Gross charge	Cash price	Negotiated	Range	# rates	vs median

* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.

SOURCE: standard-charges files from 23 hospitals · file dates 2025-07-26 → 2026-06-29 · retrieved 2026-07-26 → 2026-08-15

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Virginia Mason Medical Center, the self-pay price is $1,098 — less than the $1,207 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 53 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $252 all-in for this procedure (414 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($436).

Seattle Nuclear Medicine-Ultrasound Associates — $65
Proliance Surgeons Inc., P.S. — $66
Quality Medical Imaging Of Washington Inc — $76
Diagnostic Services, Inc. — $76

All-in (global) negotiated fees from Cigna, Premera, Regence, and UnitedHealthcare's federally mandated Transparency-in-Coverage files, newest dated 2026-08-01; hospital bars above show the facility fee only — a physician fee is usually billed on top. Estimates — confirm with the provider.

← Lower back MRI (lumbar spine): overview