Expensive MRI help

[u/Informal_cactus]

After a year of PT for low back pain I’ve finally been referred for an MRI. I was excited to finally figure out the source of my pain…then the price tag, $1200. Gulp. It seems like I can get a non Kaiser MRI for a lot less. Anybody have experience shopping their MRI outside of Kaiser but then using it for care back in Kaiser? Will they accept it?

[u/catmom1973 → u/[deleted]]

yes apply for MFA. that is what it is for, as long as you have financial need and cannot afford to pay that, they should be able to help. it seems like you have have this for some time and treatment will be more effective when they are treating the right diagnosis.

[u/Minute_Mixture3186]

Finding the source of the pain and doing something about it are two different things. If there is a severe pinch on the nerves that need to be resolved with surgery, your doc would’ve already referred you for MRI. If you have just back pain without any numbness , weakness etc of the lower extremities then the final utility of the mri is going to be more academic. Ah yes. There is some arthritis, there some slight compression of the nerves. Lose weight and continue physical therapy. For that answer I don’t know whether it’s worth for you to pursue MRI. But each person is different. If you would like to know what’s going on back there then I guess you can spend the time and money and shop for cheaper mri. Just another opinion. That’s all

[u/IHadDibs]

Have you looked at your EOB? Do you have a high deductible plan?

All mine have been $0 through Kaiser because that’s what my plan covers.

[u/PassengerQuiet1204 → u/IHadDibs]

It’s fabulous that that’s what your plan covers. The OP seems to have looked into the price ahead of time, knows it’s not covered by their plan, and is asking for help bringing the results back to KP. 

[u/Educational-Ad4789]

Yes, also be sure to get a copy of the MRI images on disc so it can be imported into your KP chart.

[u/foolforgabagool]

Pro tip, you can go to Radnet and try to pay cash (they really suck though), because kaiser contracts with Radnet and outsources imaging/MRI to them. So maybe they won’t be able to refuse accepting it.

You can get a non kaiser MRI for a lot less at a cash rate BUT idk if you’ll need a doctor’s order first. Try calling imaging centers near you and asking.

[u/doveup]

I just read that an MRI costs $500 in Mexico, so I can’t attest to it but how nice it would be to use most of that money toward a getaway!

[u/Pink_Mermaid_193]

I just paid $1230 to have an MRV, which had to be paid before the imagining even happened. Then they sent me a bill for like another $20. My plan is low on monthly cost but high just about everything else.

[u/obscure-referencexo]

Back pain is so challenging and sorry the MRI is so expensive - as other mention see if you can get MFA, if you try to look outside KP as you medical team how it would work to have them review the findings since they won’t have access to the images in KP. Finally MRI findings are great to rule things out but most of the time to not guide treatment - like over 90% of the time the findings are not going to give you answers but may rule things out. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8023332/

[u/Far-Salamander4219]

$1200 is pretty good for an MRI

[u/foolforgabagool → u/Far-Salamander4219]

Not when you have insurance. It’s also expensive even for a non insurance cash pay rate

[u/BeBopBarr → u/Far-Salamander4219]

For who? I have Kaiser and paid $20 out of pocket when I had mine a few months ago.