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

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 a doctor 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 who is treating you.

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.

How Much Does an MRI or CT Scan Cost With Medicare?

The short answer? Twenty percent. After you meet your annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026, up from $257 the year before), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the scan, and Medicare pays the other 80%. 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. But the structure never changes: the deductible comes first, then your 20% share.

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 first two rows are the same. The third is where a bill can grow.

Does Medicare Cover an MRI or CT Scan Differently in a Hospital?

It covers the scan either way, but the bill can be bigger. Look at that third row again. 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.,

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, it's a fair question to ask your doctor: can this be done at an independent imaging facility instead?

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, are handled separately from imaging, and they usually cost you nothing. 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, while the scan runs through your deductible and 20% coinsurance.

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. That's why a lot of 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.
  • 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.

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.

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.

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).,

Does Medicare cover blood tests too?

Diagnostic lab tests like blood work and urinalysis are billed separately from imaging and usually cost you nothing, so a blood test ordered alongside your scan typically won't add to your bill.

Will Medicare pay for a scan I ask for on my own?

Coverage hinges on the test being ordered by the physician who is treating you, under the federal rule at 42 CFR 410.32. A scan a doctor orders to check a symptom or manage a condition is the covered case.

Learn More

MedicareHow Much Does Medicare Cost?How much does Medicare cost in 2026? Part A, B, C, and D premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, plus IRMAA and ways to lower your Medicare costs. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to ChooseCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose. MedicareMedicare Preventive Services: What You Get for FreeMedicare preventive services are mostly free: two wellness visits, screenings, and vaccines at $0, plus the billing trap that can turn free into a charge.

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.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.