How much does an MRI scan costs without insurance?

MRI scan is a painless, non-invasive procedure to get images of your body. An MRI without insurance can cost you as little as $250.

Insurance denying the claim – Need to get an MRI scan without insurance?

Insurance denying a claim for imaging services?  Do you need an MRI without insurance? Insured patients suffer from high healthcare costs for MRI, CT, and Ultrasound scans and these patients pay up to $6,000 for an MRI scan or another imaging procedure.  Thankfully, there are options and alternatives both insured and uninsured patients needing imaging scans. Stand-alone imaging centers allow patients to obtain necessary medical scans while avoiding high out of pocket costs, and time-wasting haggling with insurance companies.

Medical Imaging Centers:

Medical imaging facilities unrelated to “in-network” doctors and hospitals offer services for cash-pay patients.  These facilities work with patients and their referring doctors to provide images as well as the radiologist report vital for the treatment of the presenting condition. Furthermore, these centers offer excellent cash pay discounts, and often bundled discounts for more than one scan needed. Moreover, the wait that patients endure haggling with insurance companies poses a huge challenge when the time is of the essence.  Perhaps, the best advantage of these facilities is the ability to provide same day or next day appointments required for efficient follow-up care. So the good news is that you can get an MRI without insurance for a better price than through your high-deductible insurance

Cost of MRI without insurance in California

• MRI of the Cervical Spine: $450 – $1,200
• MRI of the Head: $350 – $975
• MRI of the Foot: $300 – $750
• CT of the Brain: $315 – $800
• CT of the Lumbar Spine: $375 – $1,000
• CT of the Pelvis: $600 – $1,200
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MRI scan uses

The following are examples in which an MRI scanner would be used:

• anomalies of the brain and parts of spinal cord
• tumors, cysts, and other anomalies
• breast cancer screening for women
• injuries or abnormalities of the joints, such as the back and knee
• certain types of heart problems
• diseases of the liver and other abdominal organs
• the evaluation of pelvic pain in women, with causes including fibroids and endometriosis
• suspected uterine anomalies in women undergoing evaluation for infertility

This list is by no means exhaustive. The use of MRI technology is always expanding in scope and use.

I might need a larger medical procedure, should I proceed with the cash route?

It depends, you might better of first getting your imaging done, so you can have a better understanding of your future medical needs. At any point of time you can also compare insurance plans to decide if you want to continue to go the cash route, or sign-up for an insurance plan.

How to start and get an MRI scan without insurance?

If you are interested, you can also check out a comparison of prices in California.

First, obtaining a doctor’s referral is an important step to finding a stand-alone medical facility. Next, remember to make the best, a most informed medical decision, it is always best to use a third party company who is familiar with the industry.  These agencies are equipped to help patients make decisions for the betterment of their health, at the most affordable price.

Looking to save money? Get a quote for an MRI with our partner service.

How to save money on MRI scan with no insurance in California

• Take your doctor’s referral to the facility that offers you the best price for MRI scan and you can get there an MRI without insurance
• Shop around across 4-10 facilities to find the best deal for you, focus also on free-standing imaging facilities
• Pay in cash to save 40-80% of the cost (HSA counts)
• Consider doing this MRI in the large metro area (Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas) that have more competitive rates

Not sure where to start?

See how much you can save >Our concierge will help you find the most affordable imaging center near you.