Prices vary greatly for the same types of images or tests or procedures performed in different types of facilities. If you either have no insurance or have a high deductible insurance plan, you can save money in non emergency situations by getting a CT or MRI scan  or imaging  or test or procedure done at an ambulatory surgical center or a free standing laboratory or testing center. Try if you can to avoid any facility that is connected to a hospital. The best way to find out is to ask in advance of treatment if your intended provider is affiliated with any hospital system and whether any “hospital facility fees” will be added onto the bill.    Procedures performed in independent ambulatory surgical centers cost Medicare roughly half of what they cost in hospitals, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The median price for an MRI in a hospital compared with a freestanding imaging center could vary by thousands of dollars. Companies such as Green Imaging (https://greenimaging.net)  contract with independent facilities nationwide to provide scans at affordable prices and a growing number of  imaging centers are following its business model and lowering their prices for savvy consumers who know to ask the right questions and shop around  for the best price.    

Typically, hospitals will add fees ,called hospital facility fees, that make you pay more for the same services you could get at an independent outpatient surgery or imaging center. There is no proof that the big brand name hospitals are providing superior care, unless it is for an emergency or some type of complex care. Even when researchers compare high priced hospitals with lower priced hospitals they do not find a correlation between price and quality of care. You are simply paying more for the same service.

 Whenever possible, find out ahead of any scan, imaging or surgical procedure  which  prospective providers you are considering are in your plan’s network coverage and  stay in your insurance network, unless you have such a high deductible and/or copay  that making a straight cash offer to your preferred provider , if he is out of your insurer’s network,   might be wiser than trying to run it through your insurance.  Out of network providers can charge whatever they want to your insurance plan, and then you may have to pay a larger  share than you would have had you stayed in network, as out of network providers will balance bill you for any amount in excess of the “in network” amount that  your insurer is willing to pay. To verify network status of the  provider you want to use, obtain  from your referring doctor the medical billing code assigned to the subject procedure and then  ask your insurer plan whether the specific treatment associated  with that  code is covered at the location you want to use, and at what final price to you.  Then compare that cost with the cash price without insurance offered by  your intended provider.   

See the sample protest letter for  surprise out of network bills in Section 6 of this website. You can tailor this form letter to your specific situation.