Scanfinder › MRI costs
How much does an MRI cost in Australia?
If an eligible MRI is bulk billed, you pay $0. If it is not, the clinic sets the fee and you pay the difference left after any Medicare rebate.
For the common head, knee and spine examples below, 14–18% of patients paid out of pocket. Among those patients, typical costs were $160–$190. The specialised cardiac MRI example was higher at $306.
These are examples of specific Medicare services, not a price list for every MRI of that body part. The wording on your request, who referred you, the clinic's Medicare status and its billing policy can all change the result.
| Example MRI service | Typical total fee | Typical out-of-pocket cost | Out-of-pocket range shown | Patients who paid out of pocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head MRI after an injury | $553 | $190 | $100–$255 | 18% |
| Knee MRI | $548 | $185 | $127–$250 | 18% |
| MRI of more than one spine region | $578 | $160 | $70–$250 | 14% |
| Specialised cardiac MRI | $1,112 | $306 | $150–$500 | 39% |
What changes the price of an MRI
Four things move the number: the exact Medicare item your request maps to, who wrote the request (some MRI items need a specialist's referral), whether the clinic's machine is on the Medicare MRI list, and the clinic's own billing policy. Two clinics can quote very different prices for the same form — comparing is worth a second phone call.
If the machine is not Medicare-listed, no rebate applies at all and the entire fee is yours. That single factor explains most of the largest price differences.
Brain and head MRI costs
In the government example above, a head MRI after an injury had a typical total fee of $553. Most patients paid nothing; among the 18% who paid out of pocket, the typical cost was $190. A different head or brain item on your form changes the numbers, so treat these as a scale rather than a quote.
How much does a full-body MRI cost?
Whole-body screening MRI — a scan booked without symptoms or a clinical question — has no Medicare item, so there is no rebate and each operator prices it privately. Advertised prices vary widely, from hundreds to several thousand dollars.
If you are considering one, ask three things: the total fee, exactly what is reported and by whom, and what happens if the scan finds something uncertain — follow-up imaging is often billed separately. Scanfinder lists accredited diagnostic practices; it does not compare screening packages.
Does private health insurance cover MRI?
For scans done outside hospital, as a rule, no. Private insurers cannot cover out-of-hospital services that Medicare recognises, and extras policies do not cover diagnostic imaging. Insurance mainly matters when you are admitted and the scan happens as part of hospital treatment. For most people the out-of-pocket cost is set by the clinic's billing policy, not by insurance.
Get a useful answer from the clinic
Have your request in front of you and ask: What is the total fee? What Medicare rebate applies? What will I pay? If the clinic cannot quote from the request over the phone, ask where to send it.