Questions to ask about MRI cost

MRI bills can be confusing. Call the imaging center, the doctor's office and your insurance company before you book, and write down the answers, who you talked to and the date. This page lists the questions. We do not list prices, because we cannot check them against an official source.

Not medical advice. This page is general information from public sources. Your care team and the imaging center decide what is right for you or your child, and the facility's own rules come first. If something here does not match what your hospital tells you, follow the hospital and let us know.

RadiologyInfo.org, from the radiology societies RSNA and ACR, says an MRI typically costs more than other imaging exams. (Source: RadiologyInfo.org (RSNA/ACR): Body MRI) It suggests talking to your insurance provider if you have cost concerns. (Source: RadiologyInfo.org (RSNA/ACR): Body MRI) It also suggests discussing the fees with your doctor, the facility staff and/or your insurer. (Source: RadiologyInfo.org (RSNA/ACR): Body MRI)

If you have insurance

• Is this imaging center (and the radiologist) in my plan's network? "Network" means the facilities, providers and suppliers your plan has contracted with. (Source: HealthCare.gov glossary: Network)
• Do I need prior authorization? Who asks for it: your doctor or me? Prior authorization is approval from your health plan that may be needed before a service for it to be covered. (Source: HealthCare.gov glossary: Prior authorization)
• Will the radiologist (the doctor who reads the scan) send a separate bill? The doctor who reads your scan (the radiologist) may bill separately from the imaging center. Medicare's rules, for example, treat the reading as its own payment. Ask whether you will get more than one bill. (Source: CMS Medicare Claims Processing Manual, ch. 13)
• Is there a facility fee? What does it cover? Ask the imaging center and your insurer. We do not give an answer here because it depends on the place and your plan.
• What will I owe: deductible, copay or coinsurance? Ask your insurer for an estimate in writing if they will give one.
• If any part of the care is out of network, what happens to the bill? The federal No Surprises Act protects people with insurance from some unexpected out-of-network bills, including non-emergency care related to a visit to an in-network hospital, hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center. It does not cover everything, so ask. (Source: CMS: Medical bill rights) Ask your insurer whether it applies to your scan.

If you do not use insurance (cash or self-pay)

• What is the cash price for the whole MRI, including the radiologist's reading?
• Can I get a written good faith estimate? Usually, if you do not have or use health insurance, providers must give you a good faith estimate of what your care will cost. You get it when you schedule care in advance or if you ask for one. You may be able to dispute your bill if it is at least $400 more than the estimate. Check the CMS page for the details. (Source: CMS: Medical bill rights)
• Is there a discount for paying up front?

Things that can change the bill

• Will my child need sedation or anesthesia? Is it billed separately? Whether sedation is needed is a decision for your child's care team. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that sedation or anesthesia adds time in the imaging facility and adds to the cost of the procedure, so ask how it affects the bill. (Source: AAP News (American Academy of Pediatrics), 2021) Separately, you can ask whether an awake MRI program is offered: see the directory.
• Does my scan use contrast dye (an IV)? Does that cost extra? Some MRIs use a contrast agent given through a vein. (Source: RadiologyInfo.org (RSNA/ACR): MRI Safety)
• If the pictures are not clear, could the scan need to be repeated? Would I be billed again?
• Can you give me the billing codes, so I can check with my insurer?

After the scan

• If a bill looks wrong, who do I call, and how long do I have?
• Is there a financial assistance program? Ask whether the hospital has one, and ask for the policy in writing.

More about your rights: CMS: Medical bill rights. See also What to expect at an MRI.