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Best price for MRI cost in Oakland, California

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AffordabbleScan • Jan 1, 2021 • 2 min read

MRI cost Oakland, California

MRI scan cost in California
MRI cost in Oakland ranges between $1,844 and $4,610 based on analysis of 15 imaging centers in Oakland, California. Patients paying cash pay as little as $316 for MRI scans. Learn tips on how to negotiate the best rate for your scan. And compare prices for MRIs near me.

MRI scan costs in Oakland by insurance coverage & health care plans

MRI study price w/o contrast Price range
MRI cost for fully-insured patient (25% co-pay) $922 - $1,153
MRI cost for high-deductible plan $3,688 - $4,610
MRI cost for Medicare / Medicaid insurance (20% co-pay) $95 - $95
MRI cost for a self-pay patient $316 - $553
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Cash MRI price by city in California

Insured MRI scan cost Oakland

At hospitals in Oakland, patients with health insurance can expect to pay a copay between $922 and $1,153, which is 25% of the total cost of the MRI scan procedure. To avoid additional charges, patients need to ensure the radiologist is also in-network, otherwise their fees will need to be paid in full. Also, if you haven't met your yearly deductible yet, you will be likely billed the full procedure list price ($3,688 - $4,610) and your insurance coverage will kick-in only after meeting the yearly deductible.

If your insurance plan has limited coverage for imaging procedures or high-deductible, you can use our patient asssist program to compare other insurance plans to rightsize your insurance coverage to meet your needs.

Medicare MRI scan cost Oakland

Medical & Medicare are the largest payers for healthcare in Oakland, so they negotiate the best rates. They can pay between $474 and $474 per scan, patients can expect to pay price ranges as little as $95 in copay . Keep in mind there is a high chance that doctors will deny an MRI scan referral, as Medicare only covers the cost of medical imaging in very selective cases.

High-deductible MRI scan cost Oakland

Almost 40% of all adult patients have high-deductible health plans, which means they need to meet their deductible of up to $13,000 per family before their insurance kicks-in. They can expect to pay the full price for the MRI scan ($3,688 - $4,610). For these patients, the best option is often to pay in cash.

Cash MRI cost Oakland

Self-pay patients can get a discount of up to 80% by using a service such as AffordableScan and can get an MRI scan for cash price as little as $316. Our partner testing facilities are able to use their excess capacity and pass the savings to our patients.

MRI scan costs by procedure type & body part in California

  • MRI scan of lower spinal canal: $316 - $4,610

About MRI procedures

MRI scan is an image of internal body organs that radiologist look at to evaluate medical injuries. According to articles published in USA Today, the MRI scan medical procedure cost varies widely based on facility & location. There are about 3,000 hospitals with imaging centers, that need to pay for they expensive emergency departments, so they charge the insurance companies extra for their patients' use of imaging services. As of now the imaging procedure prices are about 10x what they are in Europe .

Tips for saving on MRI scans in California

  • Shop around for the best price (get a quote for facilities near you).
  • Don’t hesitate to ask for pricing infromation & compare prices for procedures with and without contrast.
  • Look for facilities that work with a teleradiologist, those provide much better reading costs.
  • Ask about all the fees - do they include the cost of the MRI scan and the cost of the radiologist reading?
  • Take your doctor referral with you to another facility – your referral might be issued for one of the most expensive hospitals in the area.
  • Use the machine type that is sufficient for your scan – if you need an procedure for a musco-skeletal issue, you don’t need the “Ferrari” quality level for your test that will cost you thousands of dollars, a simple “Toyota” level quality will do just fine.
  • Use a patient concierge service such as AffordableScan to get a quote and schedule and appointment. We'll be happy to assist you.
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