MRI lower back with and without contrast in Minnesota
Below is what hospitals in Minnesota charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 13 hospitals in Minnesota run from $275 to $4,198. The typical hospital charges $2,086. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $2,086
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifecare Medical Center MN · Price file August 5, 2026 | $275Insurance typically pays $248Sticker price $312 | Lowest price of any hospital | $248 | $312 |
| CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital Saint Cloud, MN | $1,771Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,054 | Cheaper than 92% of hospitals | — | $3,054 |
| Buffalo Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Cambridge Medical Center MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| United Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| District One Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Owatonna Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| New Ulm Medical Center MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Mercy Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Regina Hospital MN · Price file June 16, 2026 | $2,086Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,724 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | — | $3,724 |
| Perham Health MN · Price file February 1, 2026 | $2,776Insurance typically pays $1,538Sticker price $4,271 | Pricier than 92% of hospitals | $1,538 | $4,271 |
| Madelia Community Health MN · Price file October 7, 2026 | $4,198Insurance typically pays $3,162Sticker price $5,646 | Highest price of any hospital | $3,162 | $5,646 |
Procedure code 72158. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.