Cash price of an MRI scan

[injuryupdate]

The restriction of MRI funding in Australia, like a lot of Medicare outcomes, has lead to pretty cheap prices by world standards.

How much does an MRI cost if you are a private individual paying full price?

I've heard in Melbourne it is pretty much $250 a scan wherever you go. In Sydney the price varies from $175 at Pennant Hills to $500 with $275 probably the average price.

A lot of people are happy to pay this. Whilst a consultation with a specialist can lead to a rebatable MRI scan, often the gap for the specialist is $100 and then the gap for the MRI is $150 so the price is exactly the same if you are just going to the specialist to get an MRI referral.

[injuryupdate]

An MRI scan at the Mayne Prince of Wales research scanner in Randwick, Sydney, has gone up to $300 cash for a private scan, but this is a 3T resolution machine, which is the strongest magnet in Australia. Most 'good' quality scanners are 1.5 Telsa strength.

Like many other imaging modalities, the quality of the technician (in terms of taking the best slices) and the radiologist (in terms of reading the films), and even the quality of the request form (i.e. requesting doctor knowing what views to ask for in the right clinical context) are all probably as important as the quality of the MRI machine.

[sydunisportsmed]

Southern Radiology at Miranda:

32-36 Urunga Parade
Miranda 2228, Tel 95256055; Fax 95251055

Has a non-Medicare MRI scan which will do Cash MRI scans for $200. Quality pretty reasonable so a good option for those without a specialist referral in Sydney.

[deegee]

how much does an MRI scan cost (in melbourne) coz i may need to get one in about a month once i see the surgeon again towards end of september. Last time i had an MRI it cost me $60 coz i had a health care card. But now i dont have one and would like to know how much i'll most likely be in for.

Also, is there much of a waiting list? or can you get in pretty quick?

thanks

[rob762]

how much does an MRI scan cost

My experience 2 weeks ago:

$533.20 (for a knee, for example)
Three day wait

[deegee]

My experience 2 weeks ago:

$533.20 (for a knee, for example)
Three day wait

guess ill start saving!

[SPK]

If you can get a referral then your Surgeon or whomever then can claim a huge chunk of it back from Medicare.

I paid $400 for my MRI and I got back about $340. No complaints there.

[injuryupdate]

The whomever with respect to MRI referrals must be a 'specialist' according to the government. Sports physicians aren't considered specialists, just doctors who specialise in sports medicine. Effectively this is the government's way of saying that if you did your injury playing sport, we don't want to fund the imaging, but if you did it via some other activity we will fund it.

A psychiatrist, gynaecologist, dermatologist, respiratory physician, anaesthetist etc. can all order a knee MRI scan under Medicare, but a sports physician cannot (in Australia, that is).

[deegee]

So can my orthopaedic surgeon order an MRI scan (with medicare rebate) for my knee when i see him on wednesday? Thats if i require one.

[injuryupdate]

An orthopaedic surgeon CAN order an MRI scan under Medicare, but a sports physician or GP can't.