MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
Highest price of the 9 PA hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.
Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 PA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.
⚠ The cash price looks unusually high next to the insurance price — it may be the full list price, not a real cash discount. Call to confirm the self-pay rate.
A fair price for a MRI, lower back (no contrast) is about $351 (about 1.4× the $244 Medicare rate). Penn Presbyterian Medical Center charges insurers about $449, or about $6,802 in cash — above the fair price. Located in Philadelphia, PA.
This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less
Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $351. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.
What each insurance company pays
Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.
5 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital
Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.
| Insurance company | Price range | vs. Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcaremajor | $265 - $6,802 | 109% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor | $250 - $6,802 | 103% |
| Aetnamajor | $265 - $6,802 | 109% |
| Cignamajor | $257 - $362 | 105% |
| Humanamajor | $257 - $5,442 | 105% |
| Clover Health | $270 | 111% |
| Geisinger | $257 - $791 | 105% |
| Health Net | $4,081 | 1674% |
| HealthPartners | $203 - $6,802 | 83% |
| Oscar Health | $424 | 174% |
| UPMC Health Plan | $250 - $6,802 | 103% |
| + 38 smaller / regional plans | $240 - $6,802 |
Self-Pay How to get the cash price
Insurance Before you use insurance
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost
A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.
Other Procedures at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Compare: MRI, lower back (no contrast) at other PA hospitals
- Penn Highlands Connellsville · Connellsville $122
- Heritage Valley Beaver · Beaver $186
- Heritage Valley Sewickley · Sewickley $186
- Allegheny Valley Hospital · Natrona $194
- Allegheny General Hospital · Pittsburgh $194
- Canonsburg General Hospital · Canonsburg $194
- Jefferson Hospital · Jefferson Hills $200
- Grove City Medical Center · Grove City $200
Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.