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Even within Central Minnesota, medical prices vary greatly. Here’s John’s story…
John’s surgeon recommended an MRI exam of his shoulder without contrast to diagnose problems he was having and plan for surgery. John was told that he could shop around for imaging providers to compare quality and cost.
Being a small business owner, John is very aware of the rise in his company’s insurance premiums and wanted to better understand the price variables between imaging providers before making a decision. In addition, his insurance is a high-deductible plan, so he wanted to know his out-of-pocket costs up front.
At one area provider, John was quoted a rate of $1,197 for the MRI and another $102 for the reading of the MRI, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $1,299.
John then called Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) and found out his out-of-pocket costs after his insurance was billed would be $741, a savings of 43% on the same Shoulder MRI exam.
Different imaging providers charge different prices for the same exam, and each insurance company has different contracts in place for the price they will reimburse an imaging provider for a procedure (called the “allowable” price that the insurance will pay). While this system is not simple, the key is understanding that you can and should check around for prices on your medical services before selecting a provider.
Beyond Cost
Keep in mind, at CDI we pride ourselves on quality and consider this as important a consideration as price.
- CDI has offered specialized outpatient medical imaging services for 30 years
- Our radiologists are local and experts in their area of imaging (neuroradiology, musculoskeletal, body imaging)
- CDI offers a full range of services including high-field MRI, multi-slice CT, PET/CT, x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine and pain management injections
Estimate
If you have a doctor’s referral for an imaging exam and are looking for a cost estimate before selecting a provider, please call us at 800.234.3055. So, like John, we can help you find the answers you need.
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 | John's Story |
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Great staff at CDI that answered my questions and were always helpful. Thank you for a good experience!
-- Patient - Espree Open MRI
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