ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Sue on February 21, 2007, 01:30:03 pm
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I've found that there is a really broad spectrum of pricing for MRI's of the brain. Since we have a big deductible, I decided to ask around for the best price. One place was $2500 and one place was $2100. Then my friend had a sudden dramatic (as it turns out) migraine and since she'd never had one before she had an MRI at the new hospital north of here and she told me the bill she got was for $7100! Yikes. $5000 difference from one facility to another. Double yikes. How much was everyone elses's MRI? Just curious.
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Hi Sue...
That is 'crazy' money!!
I cannot see how they can justify charging that amount. In the UK a full MRI scan of the brain with contrast and carried out in a private hospital is £395, which converts to $771, and includes a full report from a neuroradiologist...quite a difference! Even at your lowest quote of $2100 (£1074) you could fly to the UK, have an MRI scan, enjoy a bit of a holiday and still have change in your pocket when you got back home! As for $7k+!!!!!!!!!
Regards
Derek
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I live in Connecticut. The cost of my initial MRI (the one that 'found' my AN) was $5,500. That was in May, 2006. I had a $500. deductible.
Once my deductible was met, I had a 10% co-pay to deal with from that point on. Before very long, I had surpassed the $2,500. limit on 'out-of-pocket' expenses my policy dictated and Blue Cross paid everything connected with my surgery and radiation treatments at 100% - almost $100,000., including all the hospital charges and physician's fees. I had two more MRI scans last year and I'm scheduled for another in April. As this is a new calendar year, that means another $500. bill. However, both my neurosurgeon and I want the MRI and I'm thankful I have the medical insurance that pays 90% of the huge expense incurred by having that crucial MRI scan (with contrast). ;)
Incidentally, most hospitals will accept monthly payments for their charges, as long as you can pay off your bill in 12 months (and don't miss any payments). I'm doing this and I've almost paid off my obligation for the bill I incurred for my 2006 AN surgery, (the portions not covered by Blue Cross). I was pleasantly surprised at the hospital's willingness to 'work with me' on my bill. I can't guarantee that all hospitals will be as cooperative but it's certainly worth a try.
Bottom line: MRI scans are expensive.
Jim
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Hi Sue:
I just looked up my MRI from May 1, 2006. The bill was $3,629.00 and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of MN paid $1,925.64 as their allowed amount. This should be an interesting thread.
Kathy
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Here in Australia, if you use a Public Hospital (even without private health insurance), an MRI scan is... FREE.
Speaking of which, just got my 6 month post op MRI results back... NO re-growth / NO residual tumor!
Oh, and the total cost of surgery by 2 of the best AN surgeons in the world, including a 10 day stay in a private hospital (with private health insurance)... $NIL.
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You know this might be a good idea. Take a vacation to England or Australia and have it done there! Probably won't work for a non-resident, I bet. But...wow. We could have like, AN tours. See Big Ben, Picadilly, stop off for our MRI's, and then a pub crawl!! Or...Sydney Harbour, MRI's, a little shrimp on the barby, some Foster's.
Hmmmmm. It's a thought. ;D
Sue in Vancouver
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I want to book with Sue's travel agent ;D
Mine typically run about 1200. I can't imagine what they did for $7,100. For that I want hot cute hunk, chocolate...oh wait that's another thread...oops so sorry ::) :-*
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Okay, you made me actually laugh out loud!!
;D ;D ;D ;D
Sue
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Good news Sue...
Have just checked with the private hospital in England who carry out my annual MRI scans and they state that anyone coming from outside of the UK would be most welcome. All that is required (apart from the cost of the scan!) is a letter of referral from your doctor / consultant.
Shall I put the kettle on??
Regards
Derek
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Ooo Derek.... a cuppa tea would be loverly!
Today I saw my doctor and we were talking about this, briefly, and he did say I could go to Canada and get it done there. That's actually a realistic idea. Of course, now, we have to go get passports to get to Canada now, but I could do it on the cheap and skip the "vacation" part of the trip, or combine it with a little vacation up there. Might actually think on that one.
Sue
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Hi Again,
Suddenly it seems everybody I know is getting those darn MRI's! My auntie had to have one done today on her leg. So I ask the kindly folks at Open Advanced MRI over in Gresham, Oregon (That's Orygun, for the East Coast people!) what they charge for a full head MRI with contrast. $1638.00. She said, Oh don't ever have one at a hospital! I also told my husband that I found out I can go to Timely Medical Alternatives, Inc in Vancouver BC and have one for $1269.69 US ($1475 CDN). They would "most likely have you an appointment in less than 1 week." Interesting. Also, just for fun, I searched in Mexico and in Mazatlan, there is a clinic that many US residents go to and you can get an MRI for about $500-$600. My husband said, "what do they do, take it with a polaroid?" ;D
Guess I should have shopped around for MRI's. Didn't occur to me to do that, however.
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Mine was about $2700 in Houston.
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I live in Northern CA, and go to a facility that only does MRI's and I pay around $1,900 every year. I did have one at the hospital and that charge was close to $4,500. no chocolates or cute hunks either, and for that price I should have gotten a pedicure while I laying there >:(
Cheryl
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Or at least lunch, a little California wine, a nice dessert, yeah, and the pedicure!
It's a crazy world.
Sue in Vancouver
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EEEEEEEK I cannot believe the money you guys are talking about.
As with Chambo in Australia, here in Ontario, Canada our medical care is also free. Diagnostic tests, surgery and care...free. HOWEVER, our system is backlogged. It can take up to 6 months to get an MRI. I live 2 hours north of Toronto and sometimes you have to tavel there for a test. Gee, I think I'd rather wait for a free MRI than pay $7,000 smackaroos for one straight away.
I don't know how you neighbourly American's do it..
all the best,
ingy
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Christopher's MRI's run about $2,000 but he gets alot of pictures for that money. I asked for a CD with pictures and there are alot on there. He gets both contrast and without contrast. It seems like alot of levels and slices. The CT scans run about $1400 each. During his surgeries, he had constant MRI monitoring, I noticed that ran $22,000 ! Yikes ! Fortunately, he had excellent health insurance from HealthAmerica. Now he has BC/BS and it's not so good.
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My friend whose MRI was $7100 has great health insurance and she is responsible for 10%. My husband's health insurance has a high deductible which I'm very sorry about but I'm so glad we have something. We have a $2500 deductible. Ugh. But, our maximum out of pocket is $3500 and everything over that is picked up by the insurance company. That's in a years time, just a FYI for our Canadian neighbors. But, see...if I went to Canada, I don't have to wait like the residents do. That's 'cause I'm paying, I guess. That place in Vancouver BC gets me in in about a week. That is if I wanted to do that. The question would be if that would go through my insurance so I'd get credit towards our deductible. I'm guessing not. My aunt's MRI will probably not cost her much as she has Medicare and her other insurance to pay for the balance. At least, I don't think she'd have to pay anything. We'll see.
Sue in Vancouver USA
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In Canada, each province is different from the other as far as health care is concerned. But Canada is desperately trying to maintain the belief that EVERYONE deserves the same level of health care, regardless of how much money they have or insurance. Ontario is trying to stay away from a two tiered system because of that belief. Is this good or bad? The government claims it is because of the cost of health care. Who knows...
ingy
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Hey Sue and Gang: my MRI's are so far 1225 in Sacramento- haven't received the bill from Stanford yet. And yeah, I have a yearly $4,000 deductible. My husband and I opted out of our family farm insurance, went to our own policies back in Oct 06- only for me to be diagnosed in Dec06! So much for going cheap. I did dispute the Sac MRI with Blue Shield of California and to their credit they are going to pay for it. However, I did save them about 60K and change by opting for CK rather than surgery so I think we are even! ::) Annie
PS would much rather travel then have to spend money on MRI... oh well
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Hey Annie - I didn't realize you lived in Sacramento, I am only an hour or so away from you (San Ramon). I had my surgery at Stanford in 1998.
Cheryl
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If memory serves, the MRI series I had ran $5000. Insurance picked up most of it but my part was $615. Cost for this procedure may be inflated as this is a fairly new variety here in mid coastal Texas. This particular machine is an "open concept" also called a "Standi Up MRI" In my case I was actually lowered into the unit but there was very little noise and no tunnel to endure. Whatever the cost, knowing what is actually going on with my AN is worth the price in peace of mind. Yes it is expensive but I can have several years worth of scans for much less than one "exploratory procedure" with all the "goodies" those entail. For my part, anything I can use to avoid an open skull type surgical procedure is money well spent.
Richard
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In the Netherlands, my insurance paid for the first MRI (when my AN was found) less then 200 Euro: included the visit to the Ent, but with no contrast. I had to wait two weeks for the MRI after my first visit to the Ent.
After that I had GK –three months ago- for about 8000 Euro (all included: GK, hospital charges neurosurgeon cost and MRI with contrast).
All has been paid by the medical insurance.
Martin
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At my local hospital (Aiea, Hawaii), the MRI with and without contrast cost $1,634.00. After provider adjustments and insurance payments, I paid $258.19 out of pocket in Mar 2007.