General information to help you prepare for a conversation with your clinician.
You call two imaging centers for the price of a shoulder MRI. One gives you a dollar amount right away. The other asks to see the order first. Before you choose, there’s one more question worth asking: “Does that price include the person who reads my scan?”
Put the order in front of you
Read the exam description as written, including the body part, side and any mention of contrast. If the order is hard to read, ask the ordering office to send it. That way both centers can quote the same exam.
Then ask: “I’ll be paying for this myself. Will I get one bill covering the scan and the radiologist’s written report? If someone else bills me, what’s their name and how do I reach them?” Write down what each office says while you have them on the phone.
Get the answer in writing
For scheduled care in the U.S., CMS says people paying without insurance can generally request a written good faith estimate. One provider’s estimate can cover only its own expected charges. If the imaging center says a separate radiology group bills for the reading, request that group’s estimate too.
When the estimates arrive, look for the exam you asked about and the names of the businesses listed. If the scan has a price and the reading is still a question mark, leave that line blank. You now know exactly which call will let you compare the two offers.