Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) should be conducted under the supervision of a medical practitioner. This means that a patient must have a medical order to be screened using an MRI.
A medical order is a written or electronic order by a medical practitioner or their authorized agent to administer a drug or device1.
The best way to get an MRI is to talk to your physician about a referral. At freestanding imaging centers and whole-body MRI providers (like Ezra), clinicians might also be able to write a medical order for you.
Read on to learn more about MRIs, why a physician might order one, and everything you need to know about whether it’s possible to get an MRI without a referral.
What Is an MRI? A Brief Summary
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and computer-generated radio waves to form images of your organs and tissues, aiding in the diagnostic process2. It is a non-invasive process used to examine organs, tissues, and the skeletal system for any abnormalities3.
MRI machines, or “MRI scanners,” are large and tubelike. As the patient lies on their back inside the MRI machine, the magnetic wave realigns water molecules inside the body, preparing them to produce faint signals in response to radio waves. From those faint signals, the MRI generates cross-sectional images of your body, or in some cases, 3D images that can be rotated around and viewed from different angles on a screen4.
Most MRIs are performed on the brain and spinal cord, although your doctor may recommend a diagnostic imaging test for other areas of the body, such as the heart, spleen, or pancreas5.
MRI tests are relatively low-risk, the main precautions being the presence of metal in a patient’s body (as that may cause further complications), claustrophobia, and pregnancy-related concerns.
Why Your Doctor Might Refer You For an MRI
MRI tests are often used for disease detection, diagnosis, and post-treatment monitoring, making them a helpful tool for medical professionals when treating patients.
Prevention
MRI plays an important role in preventive healthcare by enabling early detection of various diseases and conditions before symptoms appear:
- Early disease detection
MRI scans are a powerful tool for early disease detection, which improves treatment outcomes and increases survival rates. These scans provide detailed images of the body’s internal structures, allowing healthcare professionals to identify abnormalities and diseases at an early stage. MRI is particularly valuable in detecting diseases such as cancer, strokes, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions, often before symptoms appear6,7. This early intervention can lead to more effective treatment options and better patient outcomes.
- Whole-body screening
Whole-body MRI screening aims to detect diseases before their symptomatic manifestation. The lack of ionizing radiation makes MRI an attractive option for comprehensive health check-ups. Early detection of malignant diseases (such as brain malignancies, lung carcinoma, hepatic malignancies, renal cancer, colonic cancer, lymphoma, and bone and soft-tissue tumors) or cardiovascular diseases (such as aneurysms) may have a positive impact on prognosis8.
- Cancer screening
MRI is often recommended for cancer screening, especially for individuals at high risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and certain types of lung cancers. A screening that uses advanced imaging modalities like MRI is more likely to catch cancer in the early stages when it’s easier to treat. Studies show that this leads to reduced cancer rates9.
- Cardiovascular health assessment
MRI can offer insights into problems with blood vessels, such as structural defects and aneurysms, hypertrophy, heart damage, and diffusion. This allows for early detection and intervention of cardiovascular issues10.
Diagnostics
MRI’s ability to produce detailed images of the body’s internal structures makes it invaluable for diagnosing a wide range of conditions. As mentioned above, MRI can be used in early disease detection to prevent the progression of diseases. It can also be used to diagnose a number of issues throughout the body, including11:
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Blood vessel abnormalities
- Diseases of abdominal, chest, and pelvic organs (e.g., liver, kidney, and heart)
- Various cancers
- Joint injuries
- Infertility
- Chronic pain
- Neurological and eye problems12
MRI offers several specialized techniques for enhanced diagnostics, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), which is useful in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions, such as renal cell carcinomas, and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE)-MRI, which is used to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors like sinonasal tumors13,14. Functional MRI is used to examine brain anatomy, show which parts handle critical functions, and check for damage from head injuries or conditions like Alzheimer’s disease15.
Monitoring
MRI scans can be used to monitor multiple facets of disease and treatment progression.
MRIs can monitor the effectiveness of treatments for various conditions. For example, in cancer treatment, MRI can be used to check how well a tumor is responding to therapy16. Similarly, for neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, MRI can track changes in brain lesions over time17.
MRI is also excellent for monitoring the progression of diseases, especially those affecting soft tissues. It can be used to monitor conditions such as:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Brain tumors
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Joint and bone disorders
- Spinal cord conditions
After surgery, especially those involving the brain, spine, or joints, MRI can be used to monitor healing progress and detect any complications.
MRI can also be used to monitor heart health, cancer recurrence or metastasis, changes in vascular malformation, and chronic disease management like inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis18–20.
Can I Get an MRI Without a Referral?
The best way to get an MRI scan without a doctor’s referral is to schedule a private screening at a private screening clinic (also known as a free-standing radiology clinic).
The price range of an MRI scan begins at a few hundred dollars and goes up to thousands of dollars, depending on the body part. In the US, the average costs of an MRI for common scans are listed as such:
- Head/Brain MRI Cost: $550 - $8,40021
- Cervical/Neck MRI Cost: $700 - $1,100
- Cardiac MRI Cost: $350 - $2,800
- Pelvis MRI Cost: $550 - $1,450
- Ankle MRI Cost22: $550 - $1,450
- Abdominal MRI Cost: $350 - $750
- Lumbar MRI Cost23: $500 - $600
Factors that impact the cost of an MRI include whether or not a contrast dye is needed, which body parts are being examined, and whether your private health insurance plan or Medicare will cover the procedure.
Hospitals and emergency care units incur enormous overhead costs for providing medical care, while clinics and imaging centers must support costly maintenance and administration24. These factors make MRI scans more expensive for patients.
If not ordered by a health professional, an MRI scan may not be covered by your health insurance plan. You may decide to call your insurance company to determine how their insurance policy would impact the final out-of-pocket cost for an MRI.
An elective or uninsured MRI visit would probably mean that you’ll be paying the total cost of the screening.
Ezra Full Body: An MRI Screening Without a Referral
Ezra offers a comprehensive and patient-centric approach to full-body MRI screenings with up to 13 organs screened.
Our in-house medical team is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing accessible and high-quality preventive healthcare. The team is composed of experienced and certified professionals who ensure a seamless and personalized screening experience for every member.
The team includes board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and MRI specialists with extensive experience in fields such as emergency medicine, family practice, and advanced imaging techniques. Their expertise spans areas like telehealth, remote patient monitoring, oncology imaging, orthopedic sports imaging, and breast MRI procedures.
Our medical team will review each member’s medical history and questionnaire responses to tailor the screening process to individual needs. They will also ensure patient safety by recommending preliminary consultations when necessary and preparing all required medical orders.
After the screenings, our team will also provide detailed follow-up consultations to explain findings, answer questions, and recommend the next steps.
Ezra also simplifies the process of scheduling an MRI screening:
- Direct booking: Members can book their full-body MRI online without needing a physician’s referral.
- Multi-year plans: For those interested in regular health monitoring, Ezra offers multi-year plans that include annual screenings.
- Gifting options: Ezra allows individuals to gift full-body MRI screenings to loved ones, promoting preventive care for family and friends.
Ezra partners with existing state-of-the-art radiology centers to maximize the use of MRI machines and minimize maintenance and administrative costs, making screenings more affordable.
The follow-up process ensures members fully understand their results:
- Results are reviewed by medical professionals who provide personalized insights into findings.
- Recommendations for further diagnostic steps of lifestyle adjustments are offered based on the results.
- Members can access their comprehensive Ezra report within seven days of their screening.
You can read more about some of our members stories here.
Book an Ezra full-body MRI today, or gift an Ezra full-body MRI to a loved one.
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.
For Physicians: We’re Here To Help!
As a medical professional, partnering with Ezra allows you to refer patients for preventive screenings quickly and at no cost to your practice.
Our Hub platform lets you invite patients to schedule appointments with our partner imaging facilities. Within seven days of the patient’s screening, your patient’s Ezra report will be accessible within your Ezra dashboard.
MRI Options: Your Next Steps
Yes, getting an MRI scan without a doctor’s referral is possible. While your doctor is your primary care provider, you can stay in control of your health care by eating healthy, exercising, and keeping up with your annual health screenings.
If you want to be proactive about your health, why not book an Ezra full-body MRI? Our annual scan catches potential cancer earlier, leveraging AI through the screening process to make it more efficient, affordable, and faster.
