MRI Cost

How Much Does an MRI Cost?

With Insurance: Co-Pays Usually Around $120

Without Insurance: Usually $1,100-$2,700

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images of the body, especially the brain, neck, spinal cord and soft tissues. The MRI is used to detect a number of medical problems, including abnormalities, infections, injuries and tumors. In some cases, MRIs can obtain clearer images than X-rays or CT scans can.

Typical costs:

For a patient not covered by health insurance, the typical cost of an MRI ranges from about $1,100 to $2,700, depending on whether the MRI is performed at a doctor's office or hospital and on what part of the body the MRI is done. For example, according to the BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Health Care Cost Estimator, an MRI done in a doctor's office ranges from $1,100 to $1,485, while an MRI done in a hospital ranges from $1,458 to $2,090. And, at the Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, a patient would pay between $1,369 and $2,623 with an uninsured discount. And at the Kapiolani Medical Center, in Aiea, Hawaii, the charge for a brain MRI would be about $934 if paid within 30 days and $1,090 if paid within 90 days.
The MRI, when ordered by a doctor, would be covered by almost all health insurance plans as a medically necessary diagnostic tool.
For patients covered by health insurance, if deductibles are met, typical out-of-pocket cost for an MRI would be a co-pay for the doctor's visit and possibly a co-pay for the MRI. For example, on a First CarolinaCare co-pay plan, the visit co-pay would be $20 and the MRI co-pay $100.

What should be included:

First, the patient must remove all jewelry or clothing containing metal. If a contrast solution is needed, it will be given by IV. Then, the patient will be asked to lie on a moveable table that slides into a tunnel surrounded by a magnet, where radio waves are broadcast to create a three-dimensional image of the body.
The Mayo Clinic offers an overview of an MRI.
The MRI procedure can last anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, depending on how many images are needed, and the patient must remain very still while each image is being created.

Additional costs:

If a contrast solution is used, it can cost about $100 to $300 extra.
About one in 20 patients feel claustrophobic or anxious inside the MRI machine and require a mild sedative to keep still.

Discounts:

Some diagnostic imaging centers offer discounted prices from about $380 to $560, depending on geographic location. These apply to patients who pay cash and do not use health insurance.

Shopping for an mri:

For most patients, there are no known risks of having an MRI. But patients who have an implanted defibrillator or pacemaker should not receive an MRI because it can interfere with the devices' functioning, nor should anyone with a cochlear implant or clips used on brain aneurysms. And pregnant women should not have MRIs because the risks to fetuses are unknown. If contrast material is used, there is a small risk of an allergic reaction or a very rare complication, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Typically, your doctor will do the MRI or refer you to a hospital or other facility. But if you tell your doctor you are concerned about price, you can probably get a list of facilities and call to check prices.
Or, Medical Discounts International has imaging center locations in 11 states.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

Article updated January 2009

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Amount: $1,600.00

brain scan

Posted by: milton in greensboro, NC.	Purchased: February, 2009
Medical Center: hospital	Insurance: good

Went to Radiology depart at a teaching hospital w 525 beds. Appoint was for 4pm, did not get test started until 6;30,completed test around 700 pm. Several stat paitents from ER had to go ahead of me that limited avail. of RTs (radiological tech)I had no prob. getting a CD burned of my scans for my records. I would suggest that unless you want to wait, look for imaging centers. Also, the RT seemed to be quite opinionated regarding who should get an MRI-said women w potential breast tumors exempt from insurance payments for services. I suspect that this personal bias could have influenced my delay to some extent. I did not see any of the triaged patients transported in the direction of the MRI. There was some communication prob. at radiology depart. desk due to a "teaching " session between a department clerk and a student. Twice, I had to go to desk questioning the wait. Finally, they "relocated" me to a waiting room for MRI scan patients who are ambulatory. This is where i waited for 30 min. prior to the scan. I am a very patient person and have worked in the medical field. the procedure should have been for me to have waited in the seperate waiting room for the MRI scan/not the general area where there was a risk of germ contamination.

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