By Jillian Christensen, RN
It’s no secret that Americans are spending record-setting amounts on healthcare. Costs of basic life-saving medications, preventive screenings, and standard healthcare have all increased in the last few years. According to health system researchers, healthcare spending has risen over 1.3 trillion dollars here in the United States since 2018. And many family plans have risen by six percent or more this year—costing employers and families an average of $27,000 annually.
So, as consumers, how do we put some of those dollars back into our pockets? One way is to shop around for your labs and diagnostic imaging services. Work with your insurance provider to make sure that the lab or facility you are choosing is in network and your most cost-effective choice. For diagnostic imaging, Choice Imaging may be your best option. They offer the lowest costs for MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and X-ray in the area. They also offer excellent customer service, same-day and weekend appointments, and the latest technology in diagnostic imaging.
The average national cost of an MRI is about $1300; however, at Choice Imaging, you will never pay that much. Because hospitals offer more services and are larger businesses, they can negotiate higher prices with insurance providers, which costs patients more money. Since Choice Imaging is an independent medical diagnostic imaging facility with no doctor or hospital ownership, they can pass on significant cost savings to the patient. They often save patients hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars.
Choice Imaging is in-network and accepts nearly all commercial insurance plans and most Medicaid and Medicare plans. Even patients with high-deductible insurance can save money by using Choice Imaging. They never charge the customer more than the cash or “self-pay” rate for imaging — no matter your insurance or deductible. For example, if a patient has insurance through a large national company with a deductible of over $3,000, then they can expect to pay slightly under $450 for an MRI without contrast at Choice Imaging; unlike hospitals or imaging facilities, where they could pay substantially more based on their remaining deductible.
Where other facilities and hospitals charge a separate fee for reading or interpretation of imaging, Choice Imaging saves its patients money by offering what they call a ‘global fee.’ This means that the fee a patient pays when they have their imaging done also includes a reading by a board-certified subspecialist from All American Radiology. Likewise, most imaging is read, and reports are sent to the ordering physician within 24 hours.
At Choice Imaging, they accept a wide variety of payment options such as cash, check, and major credit cards. Federal Savings Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are also welcome. If you don’t have one of these options available for payment, Choice Imaging can set you up with a CareCredit or Advanced Care payment plan.
Resource:
Choice Imaging, Fort Wayne, 260.422.1491, choiceimagingfw.com
It’s no secret that Americans are spending record-setting amounts on healthcare. Costs of basic life-saving medications, preventive screenings, and standard healthcare have all increased in the last few years. According to health system researchers, healthcare spending has risen over 1.3 trillion dollars here in the United States since 2018. And many family plans have risen by six percent or more this year—costing employers and families an average of $27,000 annually.
So, as consumers, how do we put some of those dollars back into our pockets? One way is to shop around for your labs and diagnostic imaging services. Work with your insurance provider to make sure that the lab or facility you are choosing is in network and your most cost-effective choice. For diagnostic imaging, Choice Imaging may be your best option. They offer the lowest costs for MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and X-ray in the area. They also offer excellent customer service, same-day and weekend appointments, and the latest technology in diagnostic imaging.
The average national cost of an MRI is about $1300; however, at Choice Imaging, you will never pay that much. Because hospitals offer more services and are larger businesses, they can negotiate higher prices with insurance providers, which costs patients more money. Since Choice Imaging is an independent medical diagnostic imaging facility with no doctor or hospital ownership, they can pass on significant cost savings to the patient. They often save patients hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars.
Choice Imaging is in-network and accepts nearly all commercial insurance plans and most Medicaid and Medicare plans. Even patients with high-deductible insurance can save money by using Choice Imaging. They never charge the customer more than the cash or “self-pay” rate for imaging — no matter your insurance or deductible. For example, if a patient has insurance through a large national company with a deductible of over $3,000, then they can expect to pay slightly under $450 for an MRI without contrast at Choice Imaging; unlike hospitals or imaging facilities, where they could pay substantially more based on their remaining deductible.
Where other facilities and hospitals charge a separate fee for reading or interpretation of imaging, Choice Imaging saves its patients money by offering what they call a ‘global fee.’ This means that the fee a patient pays when they have their imaging done also includes a reading by a board-certified subspecialist from All American Radiology. Likewise, most imaging is read, and reports are sent to the ordering physician within 24 hours.
At Choice Imaging, they accept a wide variety of payment options such as cash, check, and major credit cards. Federal Savings Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are also welcome. If you don’t have one of these options available for payment, Choice Imaging can set you up with a CareCredit or Advanced Care payment plan.
Resource:
Choice Imaging, Fort Wayne, 260.422.1491, choiceimagingfw.com