MRI help - not sure where to post...

Does anyone out there know where you can get a decent rate for an MRI if you are completely uninsured?? (I'm in Dallas, Texas btw)

 

I was recently diagnosed with a herniated disk and have chronic, nagging pain from there down - many occasions I've just cried myself to sleep because the pain meds i'm on (tramadol/ultram) aren't helping anymore (though they do have me on a fairly low dose) and I'm scared because I don't know what is going on! The other night a client invited Martin and I out to a Chronic Disease Foundation Dinner and it was so wonderful and inspiring, but one of their guest speakers was a former NFL player who has some type of cancer (can't remember what its called) but it started with a diagnosis of herniated disk and then they went in and did an MRI and found cancer between his spine. Not saying that's what I have but it has just pushed me to get the MRI that my doc has already recommended (which I had to decline due to lack of funds).

 

I'm just scared and don't know what to do. The pain is constant now and runs down my back and into my legs reaching my bones, muscles, joints, you name it...

 

Or if no one has any thoughts on that how about some type of insurance that I could get on with pre-existing conditions?? I'm thinking that chance is slim to none but there are so many people on here with different types of connections and ideas I just thought I'd reach out and seek advice...

 

thanks.

 

~Jaime

I know in the UK I arrange them for about £460 I would imagine its going to be about double that.

 

Have you tried an osteopath sometimes they arrange it as well as re-hab and it doesn't cost the earth

I've been to well over a dozen docs in the past year, but no an osteopath has not been among them. Right now I am seeing two docs - a Pain Management doc (who diagnosed the herniated disk and wants the MRI) and an Integrative (more holistic) doc who balances me out through natural treatments...

My Pain Management doc said if you go into an MRI clinic to ask for the Medicare (?) price and offer to pay in cash that it might only be $500-$600 instead of 2k... not sure if that will work but I'm about ready to give it a try.

It would be so great to be on an insurance plan before hand though just in case they were to find something significant, ya know?

Our health care system in the US is really fucked up. It sickens me (no pun intended) that people are so sick yet even sometimes when they are insured they are underinsured and can't afford their medications & treatment... makes me really sad...

Not to mention our economy is going down the crapper. My dad is even talking about foreclosing on his house..

Yeah I know but chances are they will give you insurance but not for a pre-existing condition. They might in the US but defo not here.

 

The osteopath I go to is brill, totally holistic and not that expensive, he totally sorted me out.

 

I think pain clinic is probably different over here - they send you to that if they can't be arsed to deal with you anymore! Like I said its probably different in the US.

 

I would have thought you'd get a better deal if you paid cash tho rather than through insurance which they will have to wait for. I'd start ringing round places and get prices you may be surprised.

thanks, that does give me some hope. I do plan on researching all this when places open up this week... thanks for the advice

Jaime, Does your FI have insurance? Just an idea. You could get legally married now to be put on his insurance. Most company policies take pre existing if you get married. Just an idea.

Hey Kelly, no unfortunately FI is not full time at his job yet as he is still working on his Assoc. degree & working part time. As soon as he gets through with that I am SO jumping on that bandwagon!

Crap! Ok I'm still thinking.... Are you a full time student?

I worked as a manager at an MRI center for 5 years. Numerous times I had patients call that did not have insurance. Our standard rate for out-of-pocket payments was $975. BUT we also had "hardship forms" that they could fill out that included how much they paid in rent, bills, etc. and their income; then my manager would make a determination on the cost (usually between $200-$600) and we would set up a payment plan. Try calling local MRI places and see if they offer anything like this. Good luck!

 

BTW - if a patient pays out of pocket for the MRI it is seen as a good thing by the company because a lot of times it is than they end up getting from insurance companies.

Unfortunately - no. I've been seriously ill this semester so my doc said no school until next semester..

If I can finish next semester then I will only have to take 2 classes so I'll just be a part-time student but I'll be able to use the Health Center at least (tho it's God awful...). They do not have access to an MRI machine tho...

I appreciate the brainstorming tho! keep it coming

Thanks for the tips Lizz. I barely make anything cause I'm barely working! My Dad still helps me out a lot with bills and things like that until I'm out of school and can work at least a full part time job (that sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it - lol)...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've also got an email out to the lady who invited us to the Chronic Disease Foundation dinner cause she works for their non-profit group. I'm hoping she might have an idea on where I can go... so waiting to hear back on that as well!