Different parts of Medicare can play a role in providing coverage for your MRI.
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A covers care you receive in a hospital. If you have an MRI during a hospital stay, Medicare Part A would cover that scan.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical services and supplies needed to treat a condition, excluding prescription drugs. If you have Original Medicare, Medicare Part B will cover 80% of your MRI scan, if this study meets the criteria outlined above.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)
Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage are private insurance plans that cover what Medicare covers and sometimes more.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you will need to contact your insurance company directly to find out how much you will pay for an MRI.
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. If you need to take an anti-anxiety medication for a closed MRI, Medicare Part D could cover that cost.
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)
The Medicare Supplement Plan, also known as Medigap, is private insurance that you can buy to supplement Original Medicare. Original Medicare covers 80% of diagnostic tests like MRIs, and you must pay the other 20% of the bill, unless you’ve already met your annual deductible.
Medigap plans can lower what you owe out of pocket for an MRI, depending on your policy and what kind of coverage it offers.
What is an MRI or MRI?
MRI refers to magnetic resonance imaging. Unlike CT scans that use X-rays, MRI uses radio waves and magnetic fields to create an image of your internal organs and bones.
MRIs are used to diagnose and create treatment plans for aneurysms, spinal injuries, brain injuries, tumors, strokes and other heart conditions, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, bone infections, tissue damage, abnormalities of the joints and many other health conditions.
If your doctor says you need an MRI, he’s probably trying to confirm a diagnosis or find out more about the cause of your symptoms.
You may need an MRI of a part of your body, known as an MRI of the extremities. You may need to have a larger part of your body MRI, known as a closed MRI.
Both procedures include lying down without moving for 45 minutes while a magnet creates a charged field around you and radio waves transmit information to create resonance. According to a review of studies from 2009, the medical community agrees that MRIs are low-risk procedures. An MRI technician is not authorized to read your MRIs or provide a diagnosis, even if you are very eager for their opinion. After the MRI is complete, the images will be sent to your doctor.
Conclution
Original Medicare covers 80% of the cost of MRIs, as long as the doctor who ordered them and the facility where they are performed accept Medicare.
Alternative Medicare options, like Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans, can further reduce your out-of-pocket costs for an MRI.
Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about what MRIs will cost, and don’t hesitate to ask for a realistic estimate based on your Medicare coverage.