Save Hundreds of Dollars on X-Rays and Tests
Some facilities charge hundreds of dollars more for x-rays and tests than competing providers. “I’ve seen people get charged $500 for an x-ray that should be about $30. It happens all the time,” says Jeffrey Rice, CEO of Healthcare Bluebook, which compares prices using a nationwide database of medical payments. Independent radiology centers often charge less than hospitals, even though the same radiologist may be reading the x-rays. “It’s common for the radiologist to be in one building in the morning and another in the afternoon,” says Rice. “It’s the same radiologist, but one MRI costs $500 and another is $3,000.”
HealthcareBluebook.com shows the price range by zip code for thousands of procedures and the “fair price,” which is a reasonable amount you can expect to pay for the procedure in your area. For example, a knee MRI in Chicago ranges from $650 to $4,200, and Healthcare Bluebook recommends a fair price of $1,183.
Ask about costs before you have the test, and ask your doctor about alternatives if the facility charges more than the fair price. “When you call to ask about price, the places with the good price will tell you the price right away, and the places with the bad prices say they need more information and need to call you back,” says Rice.