3 Reasons to Get Your Diagnostic Imaging Done This Year

Year-End Health Plan Check

High-deductible health insurance plans have changed the way we buy health care. While we often have lower monthly premiums, the sticker shock for services can be hard to overcome. This leads many of us to postpone non-acute care – such as some diagnostic imaging – because of the expense. If you are watching your health care dollars, check to see where you are at with your health insurance plan before the year ends. If you’ve been holding off on getting an MRI or other diagnostic imaging service, or simply talking to your doctor about an issue, now may be the time to take action.

 

3 key reasons to act before December 31st:

1. You’ve already met your out-of-pocket deductible

If you have a high-deductible plan and have met your deductible for the year, now is the time to get in any additional health care services you may have been putting off as your insurance company may pay for necessary, in-network services in full.

RAYUS Clinical Note: We can save you time and hassle by initiating the pre-authorization process. For diagnostic imaging, you typically need a doctor’s referral and your insurance plan’s approval (pre-authorization) before you have the exam. Our in-house team of insurance specialists is accustomed to working with insurance companies and knows how to accurately answer their questions to ensure you are getting access to the right test at the right time.

 

2. You have money left in your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)

Many employer-based insurance plans offer an FSA that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to help fund health care expenses. Often, this money is available on a use-it or lose-it annual basis. If you have money that might go unused, determine if there is an appropriate service or product you could take care of this year. If you’ve had ongoing pain, talk to your doctor about your options. Diagnostic imaging may help get to the root cause of the issue and assist your doctor in determine a proper treatment path.

Likewise, HSAs are personal accounts with funds that can grow year to year. Make sure to watch this account on a regular basis to ensure you are appropriately funded for a health event and using these funds as-needed to ensure you stay ahead of health issues.

RAYUS Clinical Note:  We can help you determine insurance coverage information, including co-pays and deductibles, and provide pre-exam price estimates. Where you go for health care services matters in terms of quality and cost. At RAYUS, we typically cost 30-50% less than hospital-based imaging options and are at the forefront of the diagnostic imaging industry with subspecialized radiologists, certified technologists and advanced technology.

 

3. Your reasons for postponing aren’t financial

Often, we avoid uncertainty due to fear or anxiety. Diagnostic imaging can cause these feelings in patients in part because of the exam itself and in part because of the potential results. At RAYUS, we are compassionate to the duress our patients may feel and work every day to ensure patients are confident and comfortable throughout the exam. We deliver results to referring doctors within 24-48 hours to ensure fast answers.

RAYUS Clinical Note: If you need diagnostic imaging, turn to the experts. RAYUS has invested in the widest variety of MRIs in Washington State to ensure you can complete your exam comfortably. Our CT program is focused around low-dose imaging to keep your exposure to radiation as low as possible while capturing diagnostic quality images. Beyond our technology, our radiologists (medical doctors who specialize in imaging) are leaders in their field and work with their peers throughout RAYUS’s national network to continue to improve. You can be confident in the accuracy of your images and reports when choosing RAYUS.

 

During this busy season, adding one more to-do can seem impossible. However, as we look toward the New Year, we often make resolutions around our health. Now is the time to take a few minutes to access your health needs and your insurance situation. Today’s planning may make for a healthier and happier 2016.

 

To talk to a RAYUS associate or to schedule an appointment, call 425.291.8352.