What to Know About Medical Imaging Before Your Insurance Deductible Resets

As the end of the year nears, reviewing your coverage and arranging an MRI or CT scan ahead of time may help reduce out-of-pocket costs while keeping your health on track.

The last stretch of the year often fills up with holiday plans, family events and end-of-year tasks. But for anyone who has delayed a medical visit or diagnostic imaging, there may be another deadline to keep in mind.

Many health insurance plans reset deductibles at the start of a new year, which can leave patients responsible for meeting that amount again before certain benefits apply. If you have already met, or are close to meeting, your deductible, completing medically necessary imaging before the year ends may lower what you pay out of pocket.

Whether you are dealing with ongoing pain, getting ready for a procedure or still need to schedule an imaging order, the final weeks of the year can be a good time to reassess your health care needs. Any decision about whether imaging is necessary should begin with a discussion with your doctor. Learning how your insurance works, comparing imaging choices and knowing what to ask can help you make informed decisions and possibly avoid surprise medical bills.

Talking with your doctor about diagnostic imaging

Diagnostic imaging can be an important tool for finding the source of persistent pain and helping doctors diagnose or rule out certain conditions.

Still, not every symptom calls for an MRI, CT scan or X-ray. That is why the first step is to talk with your doctor, who can decide whether imaging is appropriate and which type of test is most likely to provide useful information.

If you have been putting off that conversation, here are a few ways to get more from your appointment:

• Know your symptoms: Explain what you are feeling, how long it has been going on and how it affects your daily routine. Note any home remedies you have tried, such as heat, ice or over-the-counter medication, and whether they helped.
• Ask specific questions: Ask whether imaging would be useful, which type your doctor recommends and what the results might confirm or rule out. It is also helpful to ask who will go over the results with you and whether a referral to a specialist could be needed.
• Understand your insurance benefits: If your doctor recommends imaging, check how much of your annual deductible you have met, whether the imaging center is in-network and what your estimated out-of-pocket costs may be. Deductibles, copays and coinsurance vary by plan, so scheduling before the end of the year will not automatically save money for everyone.

Once your doctor decides imaging is the right next step, finding a convenient appointment and understanding possible costs can make the process smoother, especially during a busy holiday season.

Why Touchstone Medical Imaging

Once you have an order from your doctor, you have several places to go for diagnostic imaging. With more than 30 outpatient imaging centers across the DFW region, Touchstone Medical Imaging aims to make care more accessible and more convenient.

Here are some reasons patients choose Touchstone:

• Fast and flexible scheduling: With multiple locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Touchstone offers same-day and next-day appointments, along with early morning, evening and weekend hours designed to fit different schedules.
• A more affordable option: On average, diagnostic imaging at Touchstone costs about 60% less than hospital imaging and is in-network with most major health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Multiplan, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare, WellMed and more.
• State-of-the-art imaging: Touchstone provides a wide range of certified imaging services, including MRI, CT, PET/CT, ultrasound, digital X-ray, bone density scan, arthrogram, myelogram, mammography, calcium cardiac scoring test, fluoroscopy, low-dose lung cancer screening CT and prostate MRI.
• Easy-to-understand results: Board-certified, subspecialized radiologists provide imaging reads to help guide the next steps in your care, along with interactive, patient-friendly reports.

As the year winds down, taking a closer look at your health care needs and insurance benefits could help you begin the new year with greater peace of mind. If diagnostic imaging is part of your care plan, some planning now may help you make informed choices about your health while potentially lowering out-of-pocket costs.