How much is an MRI? (if you had no insurance)

[aphex]

Just curious

 

[FleshLight]

10k

 

[Miramonti]

Hmmm, I thought it was more like 1k...

 

[jman19]

Heh, I'll go with something in the middle. When I had mine, I remember the bill being between 5 and 6k. Thank you insurance

 

[Acanthus]

What i love is the MRI machines are usually donated by a business or organization, then the hospital turns around and charges you $5k a pop to use it... hmm...

 

[cherrytwist]

Eleventy billion dollars?

 

[Tiamat]

lets see, it cost me 500$ for a consulting doctor to see me for 1 minute and tell me he has no clue what was wrong with me. So, for someone to actually do something useful, I am sure it would be at least 10x that price.

I vote for 5k$

 

[msparish]

I believe my wife was billed about 1k. Of course, they ended up only being to charge the negotiated rate with the insurance which was much less.

Edit: For clarification, 1k is what was originally charged. The bill was submitted to the insurance, who told the hospital sorry, you can only charge $XXX.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Between $400 & $2000 a pop, average price is $800.

& it's a negotiable item

CT scans are cheaper, MRI's are really overkill for most disease processes.

 

[Argo]

When I had my ankle MRI done 4 years ago it cost $1100. I'm guessing other body parts could be more expensive.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Co-worker from my last job needed a MRI scan. It was around $10K after they tack on all the other charges (doctor's fees, technician fees, office visit, processing, "room usage fee"...which was utter bullshit, what're you actually renting space? Can you throw a party then?)

They were like full body scans though 'cause he had something systemic going on.

Our employer's shit ass insurance covered only $700 of it. Lack of real benefits like that were a big reason I left.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Head MRI, $900. Same body part but MRI spect scan - around $500.

I've had both. One in '05 and one in '06, IIRC. And no insurance.

 

[BoomerD]

My last MRI, (lumbar spine) in 2006 was $1800 plus about $400 for the radiologist to read it...then the visit with the neurosurgeon was another $600 or so...

 

[George P Burdell]

Anywhere from $500 to $4000, depending on the body part and the hospital.

 

[MX2]

When I didnt have insurance it was around 12k, but I had a few complications (full body scan) and I think part of it was some radiology blah,blah...extra

 

[alrocky]

Originally posted by: Argo
When I had my ankle MRI done 4 years ago it cost $1100. I'm guessing other body parts could be more expensive.

MRI for ankle for work related injury for about the same fee IIRC. I imagine work wasn't too happy about it but boss was being a male organ about the accident and it ended up biting him in the rear.

 

[FoBoT]

hey look, mx2 posted in OT!

 

[Squisher]

Had an MRI of my right knee on 8/24

Total charges $186. Blue Care Network paid, $83.55.


Diagnosis: Complex tear in posterior horn of medial meniscus, small focal area of abnormal signal intensity in the lateral femoral condyle, small joint effusion.

I'll be seeing a doctor soon, I can handle the pain when I'm warmed up, but trying to get to sleep without my lower leg in just the right position after a day of work is a mutha.

 

[danzigrules]

the MRI on my knee was 1500.00

 

[Mallow]

MRI with reads by radiologist usually run 1500-3000. I think the people here are quoting price they paid not actual cost. Insurance covers some, rarely do the patients pay the full cost.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Mallow
MRI with reads by radiologist usually run 1500-3000. I think the people here are quoting price they paid not actual cost. Insurance covers some, rarely do the patients pay the full cost.

I paid nothing, I'm just telling you what it said on the "Explanation of Benefits" form I got.

They tried to charge $186, BCN said they'd only pay $83.55, the hospital got down on its knees and said 'Thank You BCN, may I have another'.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Had an MRI of my right knee on 8/24

Total charges $186. Blue Care Network paid, $83.55.


Diagnosis: Complex tear in posterior horn of medial meniscus, small focal area of abnormal signal intensity in the lateral femoral condyle, small joint effusion.

I'll be seeing a doctor soon, I can handle the pain when I'm warmed up, but trying to get to sleep without my lower leg in just the right position after a day of work is a mutha.

I seriously doubt an MRI cost only $186!!

I just had wrist surgery and they ran an MRI on both my wrists.......took 45 minutes inside the damn tube with earplugs on!!

It was a workmans comp case. The nurse told me the MRI cost between 3k -- 5 k!!

My orthopedic Surgeon is making out like a bandit!!

Just had surgery on my right wrist!!

I go into have surgery on my left wrist in 4 weeks!! They won`t do both at once!!

Took the workman`s comp people 2 years to finally authorize th MRI!!!
Now they are paying through the nose because they dragged there feet claining nothing was wrong...lolol

Plus I get almost 9 months of back pay that they owe me!! Which comes out to just under 3k x 9months tax free!! lol

That`s why it`s nice to have a lawyer!!
Sure the lawyer gets 15% of the final settlement but he is well worth it!!

Peace!!

 

[Mark R]

It depends!

The procedure can take a variable amount of time depending on the body part, and the types of images that the radiologist requires to make the diagnosis that the doctor is suspecting.

Some types of images can take 10-15 minutes - so by the time you've got 3 or 4 sets of images, you could easily be looking at 40-60 minutes for a complex scan. And that's it you just need one body part doing (or the body part fits within the scans viewing area - the whole of the spine doesn't, so if the original doc suspects something in the spine but can't say where, you need a double appointment to do the whole spine). However, some types of scan can be done very quickly (under 10 minutes for the whole scan)

Some studies need an IV injection of a contrast solution (e.g. Gadolinium or iron oxide nanoparticles) in order to give a diagnosis. This requires extra images (because they need to be done before and after), and the solution is expensive (up to $800).

 

[aircooled]

My friends has an MRI every 6 weeks of his brain. It runs about $3000 each.

 

[hurt]

The cat scan I had last month at the ER was billed at $2K for the IV contrast and another $2K for the scan.