How to Negotiate the Cost of an MRI

MRI costs vary enormously depending on where you get the scan. Hospital-based facilities routinely charge $1,500-2,600, while freestanding imaging centers may charge $400-800 for the exact same scan. Medicare pays approximately $500 for a common MRI, making hospital charges a markup of 3-5 times the government rate.

If you have already received an MRI and are facing a high bill, negotiate using the Medicare rate as your benchmark. Request an itemized bill and identify the exact CPT code used. Then look up the Medicare reimbursement for that code in your geographic area using the CMS Physician Fee Schedule.

Ask whether your bill includes separate charges for the technical component and the radiologist reading. Verify that you are not being charged for contrast material if your scan was done without contrast. These are common areas where MRI bills are inflated.

For future MRIs, consider getting the scan at a freestanding imaging center. The quality is identical, but the price is typically 50-70% lower. BillDelete negotiation letters include Medicare rate comparisons and fair market pricing data specific to your MRI procedure code.