Why Delaying an MRI Until January May Increase Your Costs

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging says booking your MRI before your insurance deductible resets may help lower your costs and speed up answers about your health.

Woman, doctor and mature patient for consulting, support or conversation with checkup appointment in office. Female person, medical professional and healthcare talk for senior customer at clinic

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging

You may already have spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on medical care this year. Once January arrives, however, your health insurance deductible may reset, which can change what you owe for your next visit.

If your doctor ordered an MRI or CT scan months ago and you still have not scheduled it, putting it off a little longer could mean a bigger bill. For patients who have already met their deductible or are close to doing so, the final weeks of the year can be a chance to get needed imaging while making better use of insurance benefits.

As the holidays approach, arranging imaging now can help you get the care you need before the year ends and your deductible potentially resets.

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging says patients across North Texas have access to affordable outpatient MRI and CT imaging, along with flexible scheduling options designed to help them finish exams before the year ends.

January Could Change What You Pay

Phone call, notebook and woman by window in home for remote work, virtual assistant and admin help. Communication, freelance and person on smartphone for contact, schedule and confirm appointment

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging

A health insurance deductible is the amount a patient usually pays for covered medical services before the insurance plan starts paying its share of eligible costs.

Many deductibles reset with a new plan year. If yours resets on January 1 and you have already met it or are close, an MRI or CT completed before year-end could leave you with a different out-of-pocket responsibility than the same exam after the reset.

Coverage differs by plan, and meeting a deductible does not always eliminate copays, coinsurance, or other charges. Gateway recommends checking your insurer’s website or calling the number on your insurance card to find out how much of your deductible you have met and what your plan covers.

Some imaging exams also require prior authorization. Gateway handles preauthorization when needed and can provide an estimated patient responsibility before the appointment.

An Imaging Order Could Be Holding Up Your Next Step

Finishing an imaging exam can also help patients and doctors better understand health concerns and determine the next step in care.

MRI and CT scans can give physicians detailed information about injuries, pain, and other medical issues. A scan may help a doctor identify the cause of symptoms and decide on the right next step, which could include physical therapy, medication, surgery, or another treatment.

Timing can matter especially late in the year. Some patients plan orthopedic, ENT, or neurological procedures around holiday breaks or time away from work, and imaging may be needed before certain surgeries.

Ongoing back pain, an injury that has not improved, or another persistent health concern may be worth discussing with your doctor. If imaging has already been recommended, completing the exam could help your physician identify the problem and determine how to treat it.

Your Imaging Location Can Affect the Bill

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging

Patients may also have more choice in where they complete an imaging order than they realize.

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging is an outpatient imaging provider with 13 locations serving North Texas. The company says patients can save up to 93% compared with hospital-based imaging, depending on the exam and individual circumstances.

Gateway is in network with all major insurance plans and also offers self-pay rates and financial assistance for qualifying patients.

Billing is another difference patients may notice. Gateway offers global billing, which means patients receive one bill covering the imaging exam, technologist services, contrast materials when needed, and radiologist interpretation, without a separate radiologist bill arriving later.

Checking both insurance participation and estimated cost before choosing an imaging center can help patients understand their options before the appointment.

December Is Not the Time to Start Looking at the Calendar

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging

Holiday schedules fill up quickly, and medical appointments are no exception.

Gateway offers same-day and next-day appointments based on location, exam, and insurance authorization requirements. Early morning, evening, and weekend hours are also available at select centers, giving patients options outside a traditional work schedule.

Scheduling sooner can be especially helpful for patients hoping to complete an MRI or CT before their insurance benefits reset. Waiting until the final weeks of the year could mean competing with many other patients trying to do the same thing.

An MRI or CT scan you have been postponing could be the next step toward getting answers about your health, and scheduling it before the year ends could also help you save money. If your doctor has already ordered an exam, now is a good time to review your insurance benefits and make an appointment with Gateway Diagnostic Imaging.

After all, a new year may bring a fresh start, but it can also mean a new deductible and a higher out-of-pocket cost for an exam you could have completed this year.