Does Medicare Cover MRI & CT Scans in 2026?

Quick answer: Yes. Part B covers diagnostic non-laboratory tests — MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, EKGs, and PET scans — when your provider orders them to find or treat a medical problem. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. Watch the setting: at a hospital outpatient department you also owe a separate copayment.

Does Original Medicare cover MRI and CT scans?

Yes — 20% after the deductible

Original Medicare rule · verify your plan at Medicare.gov

Part B covers diagnostic non-laboratory tests — including CT scans, MRIs, EKGs/ECGs, X-rays, and PET scans — when your provider orders them to find or rule out a medical problem. In a doctor's office or an independent diagnostic testing facility, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet the Part B deductible. If you get the same scan at a hospital as an outpatient, you also pay the hospital a copayment, which may be more than 20% of the Medicare-approved amount — though in most cases that copayment can't exceed the Part A hospital-stay deductible. That setting difference is why the identical MRI can cost noticeably more at a hospital than at a freestanding imaging center. For advanced imaging (CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, PET) done outside a hospital, check with the provider before your test.

Medicare Advantage: what some plans add

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover the same diagnostic imaging as Original Medicare, but with a Medicare Advantage plan you'll typically need prior authorization from the plan before it covers certain services — advanced imaging like MRI, CT, and PET commonly falls in that group. You'll also pay the plan's copay instead of the 20%, and you'll need an in-network facility. Confirm authorization is approved before your scan.

Who this matters to

Anyone facing an ordered scan. Two questions decide your bill: is the facility a hospital outpatient department or a freestanding center (the copay difference), and — on Advantage — has prior authorization been approved before you show up.

What does Medicare cost you in 2026?

See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.

See 2026 Medicare Costs →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an MRI cost with Medicare?

After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount at a doctor's office or an independent imaging facility. At a hospital outpatient department you also owe a hospital copayment that may exceed 20%, but in most cases it can't be more than the Part A hospital deductible. Advantage plans charge their own copay instead.

Does Medicare require prior authorization for an MRI?

Part B covers diagnostic non-laboratory tests, including MRIs, when your provider orders them to find or treat a medical problem. With a Medicare Advantage plan you'll typically need prior authorization before the plan covers certain services, and advanced imaging like MRI, CT, and PET commonly falls in that group — check with your plan before the scan. Medicare also advises checking with the provider before you get advanced imaging done outside a hospital.

Related Medicare coverage & tools

Does Medicare cover blood tests?

Yes — you usually pay nothing.

Does Medicare cover emergency room visits?

Yes — a copay per visit, plus 20%.

Does Medicare cover dental?

Dental, vision & hearing under Original Medicare vs Advantage.

Medigap Plans Explained

How supplement plans cover the 20% Original Medicare leaves you.

Comparing plans this year?

Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like MRI and CT scans — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.

Open the Enrollment Finder →

Official sources

This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: