A CT scan can be used to see nearly anything in your body, allowing doctors to diagnose injuries and illnesses, plan your treatment, or see if a treatment is working. Unfortunately, this necessary and advanced procedure can also empty your wallet in the meantime.
The unexpected expense of a CT scan is enough to make anyone’s stomach churn, but how much will it cost you exactly if you don’t have insurance? How do you bring that cost as low as possible without sacrificing the quality of your scan?
What Is the Cost of a CT Scan Without Insurance?
The tricky part of predicting your CT scan cost is that it varies so much. In fact, it can range from about $300 to over $6,700. The cost depends on a variety of factors like the area or areas that need to be scanned, the use of contrast, your location, your imaging center, and your insurance.
You might assume that having insurance would ensure that you pay less for your CT scan, but that’s not always the case. In fact, you might even pay more out of pocket if you use your insurance.
Why Insurance May Make Your CT Scan Cost More
There are multiple reasons an imaging center may charge less for a self-pay procedure. Primarily, going back and forth with insurance companies takes a lot of time and labor, from phone calls and negotiations to filling out the detailed paperwork for the claim.
This hassle costs the imaging center because they have to pay knowledgeable staff to handle it. When you save them that expense, they pass along the savings to you. In addition, many imaging centers have calculated lower prices for self-pay patients because patients don’t have the deep pockets that insurance companies do.
If you have a very low deductible, you’re likely to pay less for your scan if you use insurance. If not, though, you may actually pay more out of pocket to use your insurance rather than self-paying for your scan.
How Can I Find a Cheap CT Scan Near Me?
If you’re in need of a CT scan, you don’t have to take the first one you find. You can shop around for the best price and best quality, and there are two ways to do this.
The Hard Way: Shop Around Manually
One option for finding your CT scan options is to start by compiling a list of all the CT scan providers near you. Next, you’ll need to know exactly what type of CT scan you need. You can get this using a CPT code from your doctor: a code that correlates with the area for your scan and the potential use of contrast fluid.
With that CPT code in hand, you’ll start going down the list and calling each of those providers to find out their out-of-pocket pricing for a CT scan with your CPT code. This takes time and energy but it can get you the answers you need.
The Easy Way: Use a Comparison-Shopping Service
To get price comparisons for your CT scan without all the time and work of manual comparison shopping, use a tool that does it for you. With Imaging Panda, you can input the scan you need and your zip code to see your best options.
Getting the Scan You Need
A CT scan is a commonly necessary procedure, but that doesn’t mean you need to go broke to get it. Find your best option today by starting an Imaging Panda search.