MRI lower back with and without contrast in Alaska
Below is what hospitals in Alaska charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 6 hospitals in Alaska run from $2,514 to $6,098. The typical hospital charges $3,534. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $3,534
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
7 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Peninsula Hospital AK · Price file May 11, 2026 | $2,514Insurance typically pays $2,470Sticker price $3,352 | Lowest price of any hospital | $2,470 | $3,352 |
| Fairbanks Memorial Hospital AK · Price file June 16, 2026 | $3,122Insurance typically pays $3,105Sticker price $3,286 | Cheaper than 80% of hospitals | $3,105 | $3,286 |
| Searhc Wrangell Medical Center-cah AK · Price file December 9, 2024 | $3,143Insurance typically pays $4,024Sticker price $3,143 | Cheaper than 60% of hospitals | $4,024 | $3,143 |
| Petersburg Medical Center AK · Price file November 2, 2026 | $3,925Insurance typically pays $4,906Sticker price $4,906 | Pricier than 60% of hospitals | $4,906 | $4,906 |
| Providence Valdez Medical Center AK · Price file April 1, 2026 | $5,265Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $6,750 | Pricier than 80% of hospitals | — | $6,750 |
| Providence Alaska Medical Center AK · Price file April 1, 2026 | $6,098Insurance typically pays $5,796Sticker price $7,818 | Highest price of any hospital | $5,796 | $7,818 |
| Alaska Regional Hospital AK | —Insurance typically pays $1,888Sticker price — | — | $1,888 | — |
Procedure code 72158. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.