Just fyi, in Paris you can get an MRI (they call it an IRM)(or a CT Scan) at a private clinic with fairly-modern e.g: GE machines (don't know how old) for 180 euros (including an assessment by a radiologist). Ahead of an MRI, you additionally pay a pharmacy 20-50 euros for injections they'll administer to you during the MRI, depending on which type of scan you're getting (your weight), etc. You leave with a DVD that summarizes your results and a report. I imagine the fees are subsidized by the government, but I actually don't know if it is since it is a private clinic I'm talking about. I imagine the technicians, doctors, and assistants are likely paid less in France.
The radiology fee is separate from what it costs to be scanned (usually). CTs are pretty cheap though, depending on what you get scanned it's usually $200-500. Not sure what happened with the OP, perhaps it was an ER or something where the prices have little to do with anything based in reality.
FYI, in the US, the thousands-of-dollars list price for an MRI turns in to a few hundred if Medicare or an insurance company are paying (and no, I'm not talking about what the patient gets charged out of pocket--the actual total amount charged is reduced that much).
I wondered about that. My wife has a rare brain disease and has had multiple MRI's but I've never had more than a $30 co-pay. I'm sure that if it really cost the insurance co $5k, then I'd be paying a percentage of that cost instead of a fixed amount.
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Just fyi, in Paris you can get an MRI (they call it an IRM)(or a CT Scan) at a private clinic with fairly-modern e.g: GE machines (don't know how old) for 180 euros (including an assessment by a radiologist). Ahead of an MRI, you additionally pay a pharmacy 20-50 euros for injections they'll administer to you during the MRI, depending on which type of scan you're getting (your weight), etc. You leave with a DVD that summarizes your results and a report. I imagine the fees are subsidized by the government, but I actually don't know if it is since it is a private clinic I'm talking about. I imagine the technicians, doctors, and assistants are likely paid less in France.
Average radiologist in the US makes roughly $315,000 (Medscape 2011); 1/3 earn over $400,000.
In France that would be closer to $100,000 (70k euros) typically.
The radiology fee is separate from what it costs to be scanned (usually). CTs are pretty cheap though, depending on what you get scanned it's usually $200-500. Not sure what happened with the OP, perhaps it was an ER or something where the prices have little to do with anything based in reality.
FYI, in the US, the thousands-of-dollars list price for an MRI turns in to a few hundred if Medicare or an insurance company are paying (and no, I'm not talking about what the patient gets charged out of pocket--the actual total amount charged is reduced that much).
It also turns into a few hundred if you tell them you can't pay thousands of dollars, but are willing to take any free slot.
MRI is a classic example of high fixed cost, negligible variable cost. Once they buy the machine, it pays to make sure it never runs idle.
Makes me glad I live in Canada. I've had several CT scans since 2007 as part of some post-cancer monitoring, and I haven't had to pay a cent.
I wondered about that. My wife has a rare brain disease and has had multiple MRI's but I've never had more than a $30 co-pay. I'm sure that if it really cost the insurance co $5k, then I'd be paying a percentage of that cost instead of a fixed amount.