Cost of CT Scan

[Jolie, BSN]

Can anyone give me a rough estimate of the typical cost billed to a participating insurance plan for an abdominal CT scan with contrast?

My daughter was recently evaluated for possible appendicitis by her family practice doctor who referred her to the local (small town) hospital for a CT scan. She was unable to tolerate oral contrast solution, and had an IV inserted for the procedure. It was pre-authorized by insurance and done on an urgent basis on a weekday afternoon. She was not seen in the ER or admitted.

We received an EOB today reflecting outpatient hospital charges of $5700. I about fainted. This doesn't include the office visit or radiologist charges, just the procedure itself.

Am I right to think this is astronomical? The provider discount was $800, leaving a balance of $4900, shared by Big Insurer and us.

I fully intend to check on this Wednesday (I have to work tomorrow.) with both the hospital and insurance company, but am curious for opinions in the meantime.

Thanks.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

That actually sounds about right. You are paying for the test AND the physician who read it!

Annie

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

The price can range from $300 to $8500. Yep, take a few minutes and google "average cost of an abdominal ct" and read for yourself. There's little to no consistency in billing practices. It's all over the map.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Sounds about right to me. My MRIs cost over $8000 and my employer got rid of all of our platinum insurance plans for next year, which means I get to pay 20% of that out of pocket.

[PinayUSA]

There is no set price, I had to go thru this recently getting a MRI. I found a place that did them for $600 cash price total. If you call around you will be amazed at the price range. If you have insurance the price is always much higher than self pay from my observations.

What you can do is tell the billing department you are not paying the bill that it is too high and they will usually cut the bill in half then you can negotiate even more of a discount, Good luck............

[roser13, ASN, RN]

That actually sounds about right. You are paying for the test AND the physician who read it!

Annie

I don't believe that the radiologist is included in that price. She will likely receive a separate bill from the radiology practice.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

We were recently billed $1300 for xrays at the local ER when my daughter busted her tailbone. JUST for the xrays.

SMH...

[PinayUSA]

We were recently billed $1300 for xrays at the local ER when my daughter busted her tailbone. JUST for the xrays.

SMH...

Just don't pay and negotiate..........

[toomuchbaloney]

For the most part, medical procedures such as this will cost whatever the region will allow the medical capitalists to charge. The professional fee for the radiologist is unlikely to be bundled with that particular fee so expect another bill.

An Abd CT will cost you upwards of $2500 in AK and less than $1500 in many other portions of the USA. It is not surprising that many Alaskans travel to WA or OR for their medical care.

[sjalv]

I cannot believe that diagnostic tests cost this much and there are people who think our healthcare system doesn't need an overhaul.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

It is frustrating how expensive medical care is, even with insurance. This is why while our healthcare system has improved some, it still needs fixing. You shouldn't go into SERIOUS debt over care. For future reference (as another PP said) if it is not an emergent situation call around and ask for prices. You will find that they vary greatly. If a place is out of network it can still be cheaper sometimes to have imaging done there vs an in-network provider based on your copayment and deductible.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Sounds about right. My husband is in Radiology and said the cost depends on urgency (your was billed as urgent not routine), type of contrast and route (IV costs more than oral and you get

charged for the IV insertion) and type of scan ordered. And the reading may cost more if it was read emergent and not left til the next day. Costs are out of hand.