I had no idea MRI's were this expensive...

[dmoney1980]

So, I just received a statement from the hospital regarding my MRI from 2 weeks ago. It was an estimate that had "insurance payment pending" (thank god). The bill? $7,800!!!
It was an MRI of the brain with a contrast injection. I thought MRI's typically cost 3-4k tops?

 

[Matthiasa]

And that is why there is health insurance.
But seriously yeah, they are ridiculously expensive but given the cost of the device that isn't to surprising.

 

[corwin]

You should have shopped around, different places charge different prices for the same thing...my company just contracted a new service for us called Compass, we can call them anytime and have them compare prices for procedures ordered by our doctor, saves us and them money if we get it done for less

 

[highland145]

What are you bitching about? You've had d money since 1980.


Hope all's well.

 

[Number1]

Was there any evidence of brain activity?

 

[BoomerD]

Damn...the last MRI I had for my back was billed at about $1500...but of course, the insurance company paid about $650...and the rest was "written off."

 

[JackOfHearts]

Yeah ever time I ask a doc for a test at work that comes back negative, I say sorry to thethe tax payers...

 

[dmoney1980]

Number1 and highland145 - LOL awesome responses, love it. Thanks

It was all clear. I had a ringing in my ears since mid January! I went to an ENT specialist and an optometrist and they couldnt find anything. They both though it was tinnitus, and gave me some vitamin supplements, and that didnt do anything. Then I started having dizzy spells and a full feeling in my ears, like I'm underwater. So I had the MRI, and that was negative! Well, it tunrs out I clench my teeth when I sleep (not grind, just clentch), and i have something called TMJ. They gave me a nightguard and some RX strength anti-Inflammatories so i hope it helps. I still have the ringing in my ears though and it's driving me nuts. I now have a humidifier in the bedroom so I can drown out the rinigng so I can fall asleep.

I am glad that the MRI was negative, for a while there I was mentally preparing myself for the worst

 

[IronWing]

Healthcare invoices to insurance companies are exercises in pure imagination. The insurance company already has a negotiated rate with the hospital for each procedure. Hopefully, you'll get to see the insurance company's payment to the hospital which will likely be far lower than $7800. My insurance plan allows me to see all the invoices and final settlement amounts. The invoiced amounts are typically four to five times the negotiated rates.

Lab: Here's a bill for $267.
Insurance Company: Here's $30, go away.
Lab: Done.

Keep this in mind the next time you read about healthcare providers complaining that Medicare refuses to pay 100% of the bills. The bills are just numbers they pulled out of their butts.

 

[dud]

The price of health "care" doubles every five (5) years or so. The average person's salary doubles every X decades.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I just self-paid for an MRI of my neck 2 days ago. Total $525 w/ cash upfront. If I'd resorted to payments it would have been $1500 some.

Of course now I need to pay a radiologist to examine the imagery.

 

[CPA]

Healthcare invoices to insurance companies are exercises in pure imagination. The insurance company already has a negotiated rate with the hospital for each procedure. Hopefully, you'll get to see the insurance company's payment to the hospital which will likely be far lower than $7800. My insurance plan allows me to see all the invoices and final settlement amounts. The invoiced amounts are typically four to five times the negotiated rates.

Lab: Here's a bill for $267.
Insurance Company: Here's $30, go away.
Lab: Done.

Keep this in mind the next time you read about healthcare providers complaining that Medicare refuses to pay 100% of the bills. The bills are just numbers they pulled out of their butts.

This. The procedure is not $7,800, it's the amount needed to be billed in order get the contracted amount. It's a game they play. Ask any finance person when you register.

 

[SKORPI0]

Was there any evidence of brain activity?

 

[Kadarin]

So, I just received a statement from the hospital regarding my MRI from 2 weeks ago. It was an estimate that had "insurance payment pending" (thank god). The bill? $7,800!!!
It was an MRI of the brain with a contrast injection. I thought MRI's typically cost 3-4k tops?

A couple of years ago I had two of these within two days. That plus two CAT scans and an overnight hospital stay with a cerebral angiogram and ultrasound meant a $100K+ medical bill. Thankfully insurance covered it!

"With contrast" sounds like they want to check blood flow in the brain. I hope everything turns out ok for you!

 

[Kadarin]

Healthcare invoices to insurance companies are exercises in pure imagination. The insurance company already has a negotiated rate with the hospital for each procedure. Hopefully, you'll get to see the insurance company's payment to the hospital which will likely be far lower than $7800. My insurance plan allows me to see all the invoices and final settlement amounts. The invoiced amounts are typically four to five times the negotiated rates.

Lab: Here's a bill for $267.
Insurance Company: Here's $30, go away.
Lab: Done.

Keep this in mind the next time you read about healthcare providers complaining that Medicare refuses to pay 100% of the bills. The bills are just numbers they pulled out of their butts.

It's interesting looking at those "Explanation of Benefits" notifications you get mailed, which detail the expenses. It takes a CPA to figure out what's actually going on, but as long as I don't get a bill it's all good.

 

[Slew Foot]

I just self-paid for an MRI of my neck 2 days ago. Total $525 w/ cash upfront. If I'd resorted to payments it would have been $1500 some.

Of course now I need to pay a radiologist to examine the imagery.

Just take it to your orthopedist or neurosurgeon, they wont care about the radiology read anyway

 

[Bacstar]

You should see how much it cost for a helicopter ride. A couple years ago I had to go to the ER for chest pains due to possible complications I had with the heart surgery I had a couple weeks before, The doc had me airlifted to the hospital that did my heart surgery.

Bill was $14000 and an additional $1600 for mileage. Luckily, my insurance covered it.

 

[FallenHero]

You should see how much it cost for a helicopter ride. A couple years ago I had to go to the ER for chest pains due to possible complications I had with the heart surgery I had a couple weeks before, The doc had me airlifted to the hospital that did my heart surgery.

Bill was $14000 and an additional $1600 for mileage. Luckily, my insurance covered it.

Helicopter + Flight Medics/nurses/Dr's = OMGCRAZYEXPENSIVE

 

[Cattykit]

In South Korea where they have national healthcare system, it's only $400 to $600.
All the other medical services, including major surgeries, are extremely cheap and fast. I wonder how they managed to pull that off.

 

[Bacstar]

Helicopter + Flight Medics/nurses/Dr's = OMGCRAZYEXPENSIVE

That was just the helicopter company bill. The ER visit was separate. I just didn't realize it was that expensive.

Now the heart surgery itself was about $150K, and I had 2 of them in the same year...stupid mitral valve. Wish it came with a warranty.

 

[BoberFett]

And that is why there is health insurance.
But seriously yeah, they are ridiculously expensive but given the cost of the device that isn't to surprising.

No, they're that expensive because we have health insurance, not the other way around. Insurance and the laws surrounding it jacks up the price of everything in this country.

 

[Matthiasa]

No, they're that expensive because we have health insurance, not the other way around. Insurance and the laws surrounding it jacks up the price of everything in this country.

It was a it gets paid through insurance...

 

[sjwaste]

Number1 and highland145 - LOL awesome responses, love it. Thanks

It was all clear. I had a ringing in my ears since mid January! I went to an ENT specialist and an optometrist and they couldnt find anything. They both though it was tinnitus, and gave me some vitamin supplements, and that didnt do anything. Then I started having dizzy spells and a full feeling in my ears, like I'm underwater. So I had the MRI, and that was negative! Well, it tunrs out I clench my teeth when I sleep (not grind, just clentch), and i have something called TMJ. They gave me a nightguard and some RX strength anti-Inflammatories so i hope it helps. I still have the ringing in my ears though and it's driving me nuts. I now have a humidifier in the bedroom so I can drown out the rinigng so I can fall asleep.

I am glad that the MRI was negative, for a while there I was mentally preparing myself for the worst

Find a knowledgeable ENT, you may have Meniere's Disease. It's not incredibly common, it won't kill you, but it does degrade your hearing over time and it is manageable. The dizzy spells and tinnitus get worse for most, but eventually level off, and even stop for some people. There are treatment options to minimize the issues. My father's symptoms started similar, and he's been living with it for 10 years.

 

[911paramedic]

Find a knowledgeable ENT, you may have Meniere's Disease. It's not incredibly common, it won't kill you, but it does degrade your hearing over time and it is manageable. The dizzy spells and tinnitus get worse for most, but eventually level off, and even stop for some people. There are treatment options to minimize the issues. My father's symptoms started similar, and he's been living with it for 10 years.

My dad has had this for about ten years as well. He has lost almost all the hearing in the one ear but the dizzy spells aren't as often anymore.

When he first had it he said it would absolutely knock him on his ass for several days, he just wanted to lay flat in bed and not move. He does have some forewarning now of when it's coming and medicine to lessen it, so the spells aren't as bad and don't last as long.

P.S. Yes, most diagnostics are very expensive these days. It's highway robbery.

 

[sjwaste]

My dad has had this for about ten years as well. He has lost almost all the hearing in the one ear but the dizzy spells aren't as often anymore.

When he first had it he said it would absolutely knock him on his ass for several days, he just wanted to lay flat in bed and not move. He does have some forewarning now of when it's coming and medicine to lessen it, so the spells aren't as bad and don't last as long.

Yup, it progressed the same for my dad. His presented in the "good" ear a couple years later. His dizzy spells were awful at first, they came on strong and he literally could not stand up. He'd spend a couple of days trying to keep his eyes closed, because he'd vomit if he opened them. They got less severe and more predictable over time. As it progressed and he lost some hearing, the dizzy spells actually got fewer and less intense, to the point where I think he might get one per year that requires him to stay home.

Diet's been big in controlling it for my dad. Low sodium and limiting alcohol have been key, but that's pretty hard for an Italian guy, so he still does himself in occasionally if he goes out to dinner. I think they may have put him on a diuretic as well to try and minimize fluid buildup in the ear.

Luckily, the progression slowed down before he completely lost his hearing, and the spells got manageable enough that he didn't have to sacrifice his hearing to stop it. They can always go in and kill the nerve responsible for it, but the hearing goes with it. He has tinnitus pretty much 100% of the time, but he said you just get used to it.

Glad your dad has it under control as well.