I needed an MRI of my leg – the variance in cost (both to my employer and I) will shock you!
Written by Daniel Seidman, DO, MPH
At SALTA, we talk a lot about price variability for services, the disconnect between pricing and quality, and the incredible amount of money that hospitals bill self-insured employers for services.
After a recent ultramarathon, I was looking to rule out a stress fracture (I’m all good!) with an MRI of the lower leg. And since my idea of fun (besides running 50 miles) is digging into the insanity of the medical system, that’s what I did. I was curious what my cost (and my employer’s cost) would be for this test. Here’s what I found:
Cash Pricing Quote (range): $446-$1991
Thanks to Regional Medical Imaging for helping me get my MRI – and it was a beautiful facility with a new MRI machine, with a board-certified fellowship-trained Radiologist performing the interpretation.
Self-insured employers – take note! Even IF you paid BOTH my portion and the employer portion at the nice, high-quality imaging center – you’d save anywhere from $1700-$2800 on a SINGLE MRI! It’s also easier to schedule and a much better experience for your team members. Many employers are using this data to improve cost and quality – are you?
Dr. Daniel Seidman is the Senior Medical Director at SALTA Direct Primary Care, Michigan’s largest membership-based primary care solution for individuals and employers
