Some information perhaps not known by everyone. I just discovered it and hopefully it will help others.
There are independent imaging places to get tests like MRI’s, Chest x-rays etc., that are a heck of a lot cheaper than medical centers (outpatient) connected to local hospitals. My daughter got an MRI $1600 cheaper than at the outpatient medical center and I have been quoted $395.00 for a CT Scan as opposed to the cost at the outpatient medical center for $2900.00. I saw a commercial on TV for the center and found that they are located in our area and gave them a call AND they do participate in our Medicare Advantage plan. Under my coverage I’ll pay $300.00 of that cost but at least I’m saving taxpayers $2505.00.
If you’re scheduled for any of these tests, try to find an independent place and get prices. Of course, check to see if your insurance plan covers them. It’s been my experience that the doctor’s offices go ahead and make appointments with the places they are familiar and affiliated with when we should be the ones controlling it. I’m 77 years old and never had any experience with the medical field before this (thank goodness) so it’s all new to me. Maybe some others will be happy to get the information also.
Hopefully, there are more available across the country.
In addition to saving on MRIs, you can also save on lab tests and outpatient medical care if you self pay. This can really help for those with large deductibles or co-pays, or no insurance. Of course, you won’t find any discounts at large hospitals systems, but you can find good deals at independent and solo practices that accept self pay patients.
Even if costs are going up for medical care at hospitals, pay is going down for physicians and many are now opting out of Medicare and private third party insurance. Some Medicare patients may even go outside of the big box hospital system and self pay so that they can get high quality, confidential and personalized health care which is often cheaper in the long run than assembly line medicine.
It is likely that Medicare (and certainly Medicaid) would reimburse each place about the same amount (regardless of billing) from the standard fee schedule.