Your doctor ordered an MRI or a CT scan, and you want to know one thing before you schedule it: will Medicare pay for it? Yes. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary imaging like this, and in most settings you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet your yearly Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Where you have the scan done, though, can change the final bill.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- Does Medicare Cover an MRI or CT Scan?
- How Much Does an MRI or CT Scan Cost With Medicare?
- Does Medicare Pay for an MRI or CT Scan Differently in a Hospital?
- Blood Tests and Urinalysis Are Billed Differently
- Questions to Ask Before You Schedule the Scan
- How to Keep Your Share Down
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
Does Medicare Cover an MRI or CT Scan?
Yes, and the rule behind it is broader than just those two scans. Medicare Part B covers what it calls diagnostic non-laboratory tests when the provider treating you orders them to find or treat a medical problem. That category includes MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, PET scans, and EKGs. The federal rule that spells this out, 42 CFR 410.32, says the test has to be ordered by the physician treating you, and it counts nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certain other practitioners the same way when they're the ones treating you. So an order from your nurse practitioner isn't a reason for Medicare to say no.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
Two words there do a lot of work: "medically necessary" and "ordered." Medicare pays when the scan is ordered to diagnose or manage something your doctor is already looking after. According to Medicare.gov, you're covered for these tests in your doctor's office or an independent diagnostic testing facility. So an imaging study your doctor orders to check a symptom is the standard covered case.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
How Much Does an MRI or CT Scan Cost With Medicare?
Most people want the number before they book, because the surprise bill is the real worry. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the scan, once you've met your annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026, up from $257 the year before).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests That 20% is your coinsurance, the same share you pay for most outpatient services under Part B.
What the 20% actually adds up to depends on the scan and the price Medicare has set for it, so a plain X-ray and a contrast MRI land in very different places.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests But the structure never changes: the deductible comes first, then your 20% share. To see how that plays out, take a made-up scan where Medicare approves $1,000 and you haven't paid any of your deductible yet this year. You'd pay the $283 deductible, plus 20% of the remaining $717 ($143.40), for $426.40 in all. If you'd already met the deductible, you'd pay 20% of $1,000, or $200. Those dollar amounts are an illustration, not a price for any real scan.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
For real numbers, Medicare's own Procedure Price Lookup showed these national averages for four common scans when we checked on November 11, 2026. Each pair is the ambulatory surgical center column and the hospital outpatient department column, and the patient share is the 20% under Original Medicare with no Medigap.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Procedure Price Lookup, code 70553. medicare.gov. Retrieved Nov 11, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/cost/70553/
| Scan | Total approved amount (surgical center / hospital outpatient) | Patient pays (surgical center / hospital outpatient) |
|---|---|---|
| MRI of the brain, without then with contrast (CPT 70553) | $508 / $672 | $101 / $134 |
| MRI of the lumbar spine, without contrast (CPT 72148) | $314 / $434 | $62 / $86 |
| CT of the abdomen and pelvis, with contrast (CPT 74177) | $492 / $656 | $98 / $131 |
| CT of the head or brain, without contrast (CPT 70450) | $163 / $212 | $32 / $42 |
In every one of these examples the hospital outpatient total is higher, entirely because of the facility fee. These are national averages for specific codes, not a prediction of your bill, and your own costs may vary by location.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Procedure Price Lookup, code 70553. medicare.gov. Retrieved Nov 11, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/cost/70553/
Where you get the scan matters too. So the same MRI in three common settings looks like this:
| Where you get the scan | What you pay under Part B |
|---|---|
| Doctor's office | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible |
| Independent diagnostic testing facility | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible |
| Hospital outpatient department | 20% coinsurance, plus a separate hospital copay on top |
The hospital outpatient row is the one that can add to your bill.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
Does Medicare Pay for an MRI or CT Scan Differently in a Hospital?
Medicare covers the scan either way, but the bill can be bigger. If you have your scan in a hospital outpatient department, you can owe a separate hospital copayment on top of your 20% coinsurance. That hospital copay can be more than 20%, but in most cases it can't be more than the Part A inpatient hospital deductible, which is $1,736 in 2026.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
So the same MRI can cost you more at a hospital than at a freestanding imaging center, purely because of the building it's done in. If you have a choice of where to go and cost is on your mind, ask your doctor whether the scan can be done at an independent imaging facility instead.
A scan during a hospital stay works differently, and the label on your stay matters. If the hospital formally admits you as an inpatient with a doctor's order, Part A covers the inpatient services that are part of your treatment, while doctors' services during the stay are a Part B matter, generally 80% of the Medicare-approved amount. If you're held for observation or emergency care without that admission order, you're an outpatient even if you spend the night, and that status changes what you pay.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Inpatient hospital care. medicare.gov. Retrieved Oct 11, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/inpatient-hospital-care If you're in the hospital, ask the staff whether you've been admitted as an inpatient or are under observation.
Blood Tests and Urinalysis Are Billed Differently
It's easy to lump all your test results together, but Medicare doesn't. Diagnostic laboratory tests, like blood work and urinalysis, fall under a separate Medicare rule from imaging, and they usually cost you nothing.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic laboratory tests. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-laboratory-tests So if one visit includes both a CT scan and a blood draw, the two portions follow different rules: the lab test is typically $0, even before you've met your deductible, while the scan runs through your deductible and 20% coinsurance.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic laboratory tests. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-laboratory-tests,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
Questions to Ask Before You Schedule the Scan
A few calls before the appointment can head off most of the surprises:
- Is the imaging center accredited? For a CT or MRI done outside a hospital, Medicare only pays if the provider is accredited, so confirm it before you book.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
- Does the doctor or facility accept Medicare assignment? A provider who accepts assignment takes the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full and charges you only the deductible and coinsurance. One who doesn't can charge more, which is called an excess charge.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment?. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/provider-accept-Medicare
- What does Medicare's price lookup show? The Procedure Price Lookup on Medicare.gov lets you compare national average prices for a procedure in a hospital outpatient department and an ambulatory surgical center, and shows what you'd pay with Original Medicare and no Medigap. Ask your doctor's office for the procedure code. The tool notes that treatment may include more than one procedure, and that your costs may vary by location.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Procedure Price Lookup. medicare.gov. Retrieved Nov 11, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/
- Hospital or independent facility? As covered above, a hospital outpatient department can add a copay to your 20%.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
- Does anyone think Medicare might not pay? If so, ask whether you'll be given an Advance Beneficiary Notice (more on that in the FAQ below).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). CMS — FFS ABN (Beneficiary Notices Initiative). cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 24, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/forms-notices/beneficiary-notices-initiative/ffs-abn
- Are you in a Medicare Advantage plan? Check with your plan first, because the price lookup's copay figures assume Original Medicare with no Medigap and Medicare's own tool tells Medicare Advantage members to talk to their plan about costs.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Procedure Price Lookup. medicare.gov. Retrieved Nov 11, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/ Also note that Original Medicare doesn't require prior authorization in most cases, but a Medicare Advantage plan may require approval before it covers certain services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Prior Authorization for Certain Hospital Outpatient Department (OPD) Services. cms.gov. Retrieved Oct 3, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/data-research/monitoring-programs/medicare-fee-service-compliance-programs/prior-authorization-pre-claim-review-initiatives/prior-authorization-certain-hospital-outpatient-department-opd-services
How to Keep Your Share Down
Under Medicare on its own, your 20% coinsurance on a scan runs through to whatever the total comes to, which for a pricey MRI can sting, because Original Medicare has no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket unless you have supplemental coverage.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles That's why some people pair Medicare with extra coverage.
- A Medigap policy, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is designed to pick up costs like the Part B coinsurance, so how much it covers depends on the plan letter you buy.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 28, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits
- A Medicare Advantage plan bundles your coverage and sets its own copays for imaging, along with a yearly out-of-pocket maximum, though you'll generally need to use the plan's network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
Which route fits comes down to your health, your budget, and the doctors you want to keep. It's worth pricing both before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the imaging center have to be Medicare-approved?
For an advanced scan like a CT or MRI done outside a hospital, yes. Medicare only pays when the facility is an accredited provider for that type of imaging, so it's worth confirming the center is Medicare-approved before you schedule. If Medicare doesn't pay because the provider isn't accredited, the provider can't bill you for the test.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
How much does an MRI cost with Medicare?
After your annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the scan. The exact dollar figure depends on the type of scan and where you have it done.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
Why is a scan at the hospital more expensive than one at an imaging center?
A scan done in a hospital outpatient department can carry a separate hospital copay on top of your 20% coinsurance. That copay can run higher than 20%, but in most cases it's capped at the Part A inpatient hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
Does Medicare cover blood tests too?
Diagnostic lab tests like blood work and urinalysis fall under a separate rule from imaging and usually cost you nothing, so a blood test ordered alongside your scan typically won't add to your bill.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic laboratory tests. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-laboratory-tests
What if my provider says Medicare may not pay for the scan?
If you're in Original Medicare, your provider may give you a written notice called an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) before the scan, telling you Medicare is expected to deny it. You choose whether to go ahead, and signing it can make you responsible for the bill. If you pick the option to have the provider bill Medicare anyway and Medicare denies the claim, you keep the right to appeal. Providers aren't supposed to use an ABN for Medicare Advantage plans.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). CMS — FFS ABN (Beneficiary Notices Initiative). cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 24, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/forms-notices/beneficiary-notices-initiative/ffs-abn
Will Medicare pay for a scan I ask for on my own?
Coverage hinges on the test being ordered by the provider who is treating you, under the federal rule at 42 CFR 410.32. That can be your physician or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant treating you. A scan your provider orders to check a symptom or manage a condition is the covered case.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Diagnostic non-laboratory tests coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-non-laboratory-tests
Learn More
Find personalized help figuring out what an MRI or CT scan will cost you under Medicare at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.
Still have questions?
Brevy answers from this guide and every other guide here, and can check what you qualify for.