Affordable Imaging Centers near me for uninsured & under-insured | MRIs from $225

Imaging Centers near me – find out how to save money

Imaging centers scan costs vary by facility & location.  For 40% of high-deductible patients insurance no longer covers MRI/CT/Ultrasound scan cost until they reach their $6,000 to $18,000 deductible. Patients are expected to pay out of pocket between $700 – $6,000 for a single MRI or a CT scan. It’s paramount that you do your research first before going to the closest facility you where you were directed first by your doctor.

MRI scan costs by procedure type

Find out the average prices for most frequent imaging procedures:

CPT Code	MRI procedure	Price	Direct Pay Price	Average (Estimated) Total
70552	MRI Brain w/ Contrast	$847	$1,100	$1,692
70553	MRI Brain w/o & w/ Contrast	$1,027	$1,335	$2,054
70551	MRI Brain w/o Contrast	$664	$863	$1,328
72149	MRI Lumbar Spine w/ Contrast	$846	$1,100	$1,692
72158	MRI Lumbar Spine w/o & w/ Contrast	$1,033	$1,342	$2,065
72148	MRI Lumbar Spine w/o Contrast	$664	$863	$1,328
72142	MRI Spine Cervical w/ Contrast	$1,960	$2,547	$3,919
72156	MRI Spine Cervical w/o & w Contrast	$1,033	$1,342	$2,065
72141	MRI Spine Cervical w/o Contrast	$664	$863	$1,328
74182	MRI Abd w/ Contrast	$846	$1,100	$1,692
74183	MRI Abd w/o & w/ Contrast	$1,033	$1,342	$2,065
74181	MRI Abd w/o Contrast	$664	$863	$1,328

Imaging Centers scan costs for uninsured patients

Location matters: save money by going to an imaging center to larger cities with more competition

The pricing is generally tied to supply & demand market economics. The more outpatient facilities are there in the market, the higher is the competition. And as a result, the imaging centers are more willing to compete on price for MRI & CT scans to win patients. Generally, large cities with a lot of competing hospitals such as Los Angeles, Miami or Chicago and outpatient clinics tend to be more affordable.

We tend to see the best prices in the Los Angeles region, Miami region and other large cities. Generally, the more facilities are in an area, the higher is the likelihood that they will compete for patients on price and service quality.

Most Affordable Cities for Imaging scans near you:

• MRI scan price in Los Angeles, CA: $225-700 – suburbia with most MRI clinics
• The cost of an CT scan in Chicago, IL: $200 – $438 –  Offers both affordable & expensive locations
• MRI scan cost in Miami, FL: $250 – 1,250 – Great choice of MRI imaging centers for people located in the southern states
• MRI scan cost in Phoenix, AZ: $350 – 693 – Great choice of MRI imaging centers

Most Expensive Cities for Imaging scans:

• Raleigh, NC: $1285
• New York, NY: $1,200
• Boston, MA:  $1,077
• Portland, WA: $1,053
• Richmond, VA: $986

How to save money on Imaging scans near you:

Pay in cash and save thousands on imaging fees

The great news is that with a standalone clinic you can always negotiate a better rate if you pay in cash. The imaging center saves on billing costs and removes the hassle of dealing with insurance companies, so they can provide you with large discounts. You can pay as little as $225 for an MRI scan without contrast. Which means you will save 80% vs. the sticker price.

Outpatient facilities have more affordable imaging costs than hospitals

Hospitals directly refer their patients to their imaging facilities, so they are not directly motivated to provide affordable service. Especially research hospitals such as UCSF or Stanford are among the most expensive in the country. For instance, 2 years ago Stanford charged a patient $25,000+ for a single MRI.

Tip for insured patients – Don’t get stuck in in-network/out of network loopholes

If you happen to go to an out-of-network imaging center, you can be charged a large bill. In the edge cases, one patient had to pay  $25,000+ for his daughter’s scan. Make sure that not only the imaging facility is in-network, but also the radiologist who will be reading the scan. Otherwise, you can be still charged the full cost.

In case you use your insurance for an MRI scan and it gets disapproved, you will be charged the full sticker price. Surprisingly, due to a legal agreement between insurance and facility, you won’t be able to negotiate. Therefore many patients prefer to pay for an MRI scan in cash.

My health insurance denied my MRI or CT, what can I do?

The good news is that you can still do the magnetic resonance imaging procedure if you pay for it in cash. Instead of waiting 3-4 weeks, you can reach out to our AffordableScan concierge to help you schedule your appointment. The usual MRI pricing ranges between $225-600 fee. This fee includes the radiologist reading and CD of the scan. Generally, we place most patients in a day or a week and you can expect the results within the next 2 business days.

Tips for getting an affordable imaging scan

• Shop around for the best price (see the facilities in your area)
• Don’t hesitate to ask for discounts
• Ask about all the fees for your body part MRI. Do they include the cost of MRI, cost of the radiologist reading?
• Take your doctor’s referral with you to another facility. Your referral might be issued to one of the most expensive hospitals in the country

Not sure where to start?

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