MRI broke the bank

[huberm]

I went in to the doctor recently because I've been excessively fatigued. Among other things, he wanted an MRI of my abdomen. I thought no big deal, he has all of his patients that smoke get an MRI yearly anyways for prevention measures, it can't be that expensive.

I got my statement from insurance for it today - the hospital billed just over $2500, of which I have to pay $800. The MRI only took about 15 minutes to complete.

How can something cost that much? I understand that the equipment is expensive, and the radiologist deserves a handsome paycheck, but $2500?????? WTF? I am now almost convinced to avoid the doctor from now on unless my health is in serious jeopardy.

/rant

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

welcome to American healthcare.

Sometimes it's better to die, it seems.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: huberm
I went in to the doctor recently because I've been excessively fatigued. Among other things, he wanted an MRI of my abdomen. I thought no big deal, he has all of his patients that smoke get an MRI yearly anyways for prevention measures, it can't be that expensive.

I got my statement from insurance for it today - the hospital billed just over $2500, of which I have to pay $800. The MRI only took about 15 minutes to complete.

How can something cost that much? I understand that the equipment is expensive, and the radiologist deserves a handsome paycheck, but $2500?????? WTF? I am now almost convinced to avoid the doctor from now on unless my health is in serious jeopardy.

/rant

liability insurance, maintenance contract on the machine, paying the technician, the radiologist, and everyone from the janitor to the receptionist.

But 2500 is a lot of money.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
welcome to American healthcare.

Sometimes it's better to die, it seems.

Not all plans though. I just had an MRI on my knee and it was completely covered by my insurance. So was the surgery and therapy. I saw that insurance paid around $1800 for the procedure.

 

[AreaCode707]

Not a nice surprise. Talk to the doc about paying by installments?

All legitimate costs aside (and there are many) the healthcare system jacks up costs. It's a huge profit industry.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: huberm
I went in to the doctor recently because I've been excessively fatigued. Among other things, he wanted an MRI of my abdomen. I thought no big deal, he has all of his patients that smoke get an MRI yearly anyways for prevention measures, it can't be that expensive.

I got my statement from insurance for it today - the hospital billed just over $2500, of which I have to pay $800. The MRI only took about 15 minutes to complete.

How can something cost that much? I understand that the equipment is expensive, and the radiologist deserves a handsome paycheck, but $2500?????? WTF? I am now almost convinced to avoid the doctor from now on unless my health is in serious jeopardy.

/rant

You sure that was an MRI??? MRI's usually dont take 15 minutes...sounds more like CT scan.

EDIT: CT scan's I can see getting yearly....MRI's definitely not...

 

[Sphexi]

That's crap...two years ago I had to have a chest XRAY to check for TB and whatnot, in order to be allowed to move up to Canada. They also did lots of bloodwork, and a full physical, none of which was covered by my insurance. Whole bill was like $300 or so, for two hours of work and the blood tests.

 

[Jeff7]

And this I think is why we get a lot of medical questions popping up on the forums here. It's a lot cheaper than even just getting looked at in a doctor's office. Really really expensive stuff.
We need medical tricorders!

 

[halik]

Maybe you ought to get real health insurance? I had a CT scan and appendectomy afterwards ... didn't pay a thing.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
welcome to American healthcare.

Sometimes it's better to die, it seems.

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[gooseman]

Your insurance SUCKS.

 

[DVK916]

Your insurance sucks. I pay $0 for an MRI.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: gooseman
Your insurance SUCKS.

That's the first thing I thought of as well. Get better insurance.

 

[Double Trouble]

"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

 

[swimscubasteve]

It's called going to the ER without ID and complaining a lot. You will get the MRI for free.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

No. You're too stubborn to get better healthcare. You can get supplemental if you like or take care of the tax advantages given to you.

A lot of my friends have to supply their own insurance for a family of 4-5 (business owners or they choose to have top-notch healthcare). They do so by purchasing their own healthcare for 250-300 a month.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

you don't have ot change jobs. you can get insurance on yourself. it is not the works resonbility to make sure the insurance is great. hell they don't have to give it to you at all.


a MRI yearly? whoa.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

the HMO lobby is pretty formidable

 

[Schadenfroh]

The MRI machine probably costs a million $.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

the HMO lobby is pretty formidable

So don't get a HMO. It really is that simple.

 

[isekii]

I have a ****** HMO plan through work, and it comes MRI's 100%

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The MRI machine probably costs a couple of million.

Try 1 million per tesla....most good MRI machines in hospitals are 3.0 to 3.5 teslas....usually upkeep is 300,000 to 1mill a year in upkeep.

And again....what he describes sounds more like a CT scan than an MRI

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

the HMO lobby is pretty formidable

So don't get a HMO. It really is that simple.

oesn't it depend on the company you work for? Paying for your own insurance is quite costly and often you dont get adequate coverage since you can't get the discounted rates large companies get

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
oesn't it depend on the company you work for? Paying for your own insurance is quite costly and often you dont get adequate coverage since you can't get the discounted rates large companies get

You chose those benefits when you accepted employment or you possibly chose to pick "the cheap plan" from the choices available with your employer. If you need to supplement it (or bypass it) to get your own then do so. You know that duck that quacks? Call him.

HMO's are the devil of insurance. But then again the addage of "you get what you pay for" holds very true.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: tagej
"Get better insurance". Yeah, right. If you get insurance through your employer, you really don't have a whole lot of choice unless you decide to change jobs. The US health care system is seriously broken and in need of fixing, but the stupid politicians don't have the balls to do it.

the HMO lobby is pretty formidable

So don't get a HMO. It really is that simple.

oesn't it depend on the company you work for? Paying for your own insurance is quite costly and often you dont get adequate coverage since you can't get the discounted rates large companies get

sure. it depends on teh company. Yes it is expensive. I had it for a few years. and the covorage was pretto good.

good covorage is well worth paying for. #300 a month saved me thousands a year.