A Blog for Healthcare Consumers

CT scans are frequently ordered by doctors to look for and follow a variety of diseases. Although insurance covers most of the cost, with the growth of high deductible plans, higher copays, and catastrophe-only coverage, U.S. patients are increasingly paying more out of pocket for their medical care. And over 47 million uninsured people are faced with the full cost of a CT scan if they need one.

CT prices are based on a number of factors:

• body part or parts being examined
  
• need for contrast/dye injection
  
• done at hospital or outpatient imaging center
• local competition
  

CT Scan prices vary widely online

If you are paying cash, you'll probably start searching for CT scan prices online. You'll find a wide range of prices $300 to $1500. On the low end of the scale, the scan may not include contrast (dye) and is only one part of the entire order. For example, if your doctor orders a CT scan of the Abdomen and Pelvis, he or she is actually ordering 2 tests. On the high end of the scale, you may be looking at what the facility "charges". That is, they determine the price based on what they get paid by insurance and then multiple that by 2 or 3. This pricing scheme is frequently used to calculate cash prices.

Negotiating CT scan prices

Negotiating prices for healthcare services can be time consuming and frustrating. Outpatient facilities that have a lot of local competition will be more willing to negotiate prices. Some will also split the cost into 2 or 3 payments. Hospitals are usually less willing to negotiate and start from a higher price point. Key things you need to ask:

1. Does the price include contrast?
2. Does the price include a copy of the films or a CD?
3. If I have to come back for additional images, are these included?
4. Is the facility ACR certified?
5. Is the Radiologist Board Certified?

In addition to doing online research and calling, fortunately there are a growing number of websites (like ours) that are working hard to make prices easy to find and help you understand what you're paying for.

FYI: You can look up our prices for CT scans here.

Have you tried shopping for an CT scan? How much did you pay? Did ask for and get a discount? Leave your comments below.