Key takeaways:
- A brain scan, as part of an evaluation referred by your primary health care provider, neurologist, or ENT, may help understand the causes of symptoms like persistent headaches, seizures, dizziness, etc.
- Inpatient procedures are usually more costly than outpatient tests.
- Brain scan cost varies depending on the scan type, contrast, sedatives, and more.
- A full-body MRI scan may better screen for abnormalities, like tumors, than a CT scan. Both can be used for brain scan
Wondering if you have an abnormality related to your brain is worrisome enough. Even more stressful is figuring out how to pay for the brain scan to check for those abnormalities.
If you have symptoms like headaches, seizures, muscle weakness, etc., it is not uncommon for your healthcare practitioner to order a brain scan to figure out their causes1.
It’s also natural to worry about brain scan costs, considering all the different prices you might see online. Let’s look at average brain scan costs and why this can vary.
Factors Determining Average Brain Scan Cost
Imaging tests provide a picture of the brain to your physician and may show potential causes of the symptoms – cysts, tumors, swellings, aneurysms, etc.
The most common imaging tests for a brain scan are computerized tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans2. The brain scan cost, however, varies depending on the type of imaging test, the part of the body to be scanned, the facility and location of your scan, and your insurance plan.
The cost disparity in healthcare in the U.S. means that each facility can charge differently for a brain scan.
The average cost of a brain CT scan can range between $825 to $4,800, while a brain MRI cost tends to range from $1,600 to $8,400 on average3,4.
Hospitals tend to charge more for a scan than a standalone facility. For a general CT scan, you may pay around $525 at an outpatient imaging center but as much as $4,750 in an inpatient setting.
1. Contrast
Another factor that may increase the cost of a brain scan is whether it uses contrast. A contrast agent is a chemical dye that helps highlight some areas within the brain5. In the case of a CT scan, iodine or barium sulfate compounds are used as contrast dyes. In the case of an MRI, gadolinium is the main component of the dye.
For a brain scan with contrast, you’ll be given the contrast agent sometime prior to the scan through an injection. If you get a brain scan with contrast, it will increase the cost.
2. Sedatives
An MRI scanner is usually tunnel-shaped, and you’ll have to spend from 15 minutes to an hour in it while the machine captures your brain’s images.
If you suffer from claustrophobia or cannot stand the loud noise the MRI machine usually makes, your radiologist may give you a dose of a mild sedative. This typically increases the pricing by $125 to $400 per scan.
How Much Does a Brain Scan Cost? Dealing With Insurance
Insurance coverage for brain scans in the United States can vary significantly depending on your specific plan and provider6.
Covered Scans: Many insurance plans will cover brain scans if deemed medically necessary. This typically includes scans ordered to diagnose conditions such as tumors, stroke, aneurysms, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injuries.
Referral and Pre-Authorization: Most insurance providers require a referral from a physician and prior authorization for the scan. Without this approval, the scan may not be covered.
High-Deductible Plans: If you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may need to pay the full cost of the scan until your deductible is met. However, this will contribute toward your annual out-of-pocket maximum7.
Out-of-Network Facilities: Insurance may cover less or none of the costs if you use an out-of-network imaging facility. Be sure to confirm whether the facility is in-network before scheduling your scan8.
Exclusions: Some insurance plans may exclude certain types of scans, such as those considered experimental or unrelated to a diagnosed condition. Functional MRIs (fMRI), for example, are sometimes excluded unless specific criteria are met9
Copays and Coinsurance: Even if a scan is covered, you may still be responsible for copays or coinsurance. Check your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) for details10.
Screening Scans: Preventative or screening scans, such as routine checks for conditions without symptoms, are less likely to be covered by insurance unless explicitly included in your plan.
Appeals: If your claim is denied, you may have the option to appeal the decision. Work with your healthcare provider to supply any additional information your insurer may require.
At ezra, we provide you with a complete hassle-free scan experience. From helping you get a referral from a healthcare practitioner to helping you understand your scan results, a dedicated care team will be with you throughout the way.
We offer transparent pricing, and you can pay for your scan with your FSA/HSA dollars. That way, you can use pre-tax dollars for an Ezra Full Body scan, making it even cheaper.
When Should You Get a Brain Scan?
When you experience any of the persistent symptoms like seizures, blurry vision, dizziness, muscle weakness, worsening speech, progressive hearing loss, and headaches, visit a healthcare practitioner as soon as possible11. Your physician may order a brain scan.
It is natural to expect the worst when you are asked to get a brain scan. However, you need to understand that a brain scan can offer your healthcare team a detailed picture of potential problems and give you a head start on the treatment.
A brain scan can empower you and your healthcare team to plan a treatment regimen when a disease is in its early stages.
What Can a Brain Scan Tell You?
A brain scan, using powerful diagnostic imaging tests like CT and MRI, can help healthcare practitioners understand the causes behind episodes of fainting, seizures, blurry vision, dizziness, muscle weakness, speech difficulty, hearing loss, and persistent headaches.
These symptoms may signify a deeper medical issue that can range from infections and traumatic injuries to multiple sclerosis, atrophy of brain tissue, a brain tumor, or something else.
What Is the Difference Between an MRI and a CT Scan?
Both MRI and CT scans are powerful imaging tests. Both are non-invasive. However, they work differently.
A CT, or CAT scan, uses X-rays to form images of the inside of your body12. An MRI uses a combination of magnetic field and radio waves to form images13. There is always a risk of X-ray radiation exposure and potential subsequent cancer development with a CT scan, whereas MRI scans are considered relatively safe.
CT scans are usually faster and take around 15 minutes to complete. MRIs last from 1-4 hours, depending on the type of scan. Depending on the situation, MRI scans may be more accurate and produce better images than CT scans.
Stay in Control of Your Health With an ezra Full Body
At ezra, we believe that the best way to stay ahead of medical problems is to catch them early. To do this, we developed the ezra Full Body, an approximately 60-minute full body MRI scan service that is designed to detect abnormalities inside your body.
The information you could obtain from an ezra full-body screening has the potential to help you find problems that may be lurking inside your body earlier.
The Ezra Full Body is an approximately one-hour whole-body MRI scan that scans up to 13 organs, including the brain. With this scan, Ezra offers a 45-minute post-scan consultation with a medical provider, a personal care advisor, and a midyear check-in.
Where Can I Find a Brain MRI Scan Near Me?
Ezra has locations across the US, including:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Bozeman
- Buffalo
- Dallas
- Houston
- Las Vegas
- Little Rock
- Long Island
- Los Angeles
- Madison
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- Naples
- New Jersey
- New York
- Orange County
- Orlando
- Palm Beach
- Philadelphia
- Reno
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- St. Louis
- Washington D.C.
We’ve partnered with some of the best names in diagnostic imaging services to give you concierge service and satisfaction.
Ezra offers uniform, transparent pricing on its scans.
The Ezra Full Body Flash, which includes the head, neck, abdomen, and pelvis, is $1,495 or as low as $94 a month. A Full Body is $2,395, or as low as $84 a month, which includes head, neck, abdomen, pelvis, and spine. The Full Body Plus is $2,695 or as low as $94 a month. The Full Body Plus includes the above scan locations, as well as an LDCT (low dose CT) chest scan, coronary calcium scoring, and a prostate scan with IV contrast.
Our most advanced longevity scan is the Ezra Blueprint, which includes a full-body MRI scan, an MR angiogram, advanced brain analysis, body composition, advanced musculoskeletal scan, LDCT, and coronary calcium scoring, costs $5995 or as low as $198 a month.
We also offer three-year and five-year plans at a significant discount.
Join hundreds of individuals who are taking control of their health. Book your scan today.
The more you know about your body, the more you can make the right decisions for treatment. If you want to understand your risk factors in only five minutes, take our risk assessment quiz.
