How much money does it cost to get an MRI?!
Question: How much money does it cost to get an MRI?
Answers:
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 copay for the doctor's visit and possibly a copay for the MRI. For example, on a First CarolinaCare copay plan, the visit copay would be $20 and the MRI copay $100.