MRI scan costs can vary a lot depending on where you’re treated, the body part being scanned and your provider’s billing policy. However, if your scan was required as part of a hospital admission as a public patient, or you go to an outpatient clinic that bulk bills, you should have no out-of-pocket-costs.
When you’re treated as a private hospital inpatient, your health fund will likely pay for any required diagnostic imaging, although you may still have an out-of-pocket expense such the gap fee, excess or co-payment.
When you get a medically necessary MRI as an outpatient, Medicare will pay 85% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee if your provider doesn’t bulk bill. The table below will take you through some of the different types of MRIs, the amount Medicare will pay and the average out-of-pocket cost.
MRI type |
Average cost |
Medicare pays (85% of MBS) |
Average out-of-pocket cost |
Scan looking for knee problems |
$533 |
$348 |
$190 |
Scan looking for spine tumour |
$552 |
$387 |
$163 |
Scan of both breasts looking for cancer |
$808 |
$608 |
$200 |
Scan for spinal injury |
$505 |
$310 |
$195 |
Scan to look at cardiovascular system |
$1,111 |
$776 |
$335 |
Source: Medical Costs Finder. Data from 2022-23. Accessed July 2024 |