Health savings accounts (HSAs) are designed for qualified medical expenses, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are included. However, before you dip into your HSA, check if your high-deductible health plan (HDHP) will cover the MRI entirely, especially for preventive treatment.
If your doctor orders an MRI as part of a preventive screening, your HDHP may pay for everything without tapping into your deductible or HSA. Here’s what you need to know before scheduling a scan.
Can I Use HSA to Pay for MRI? Yes and Here’s How!
MRIs are HSA-eligible medical expenses under IRS Publication 502.
If you’ve been prescribed an MRI by a healthcare professional, you can use your HSA fund to pay for it, tax-free. It doesn’t matter whether the MRI is for your back, brain, knee, or abdomen.
The MRI qualifies as long as it’s not a cosmetic procedure. It must be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition.
A hospital-based MRI may run $1,000 to $5,000, while outpatient imaging centers often charge $300 to $700. Since HSA funds don’t expire and roll over annually, this can be a smart way to afford big-ticket diagnostic expenses.
If you’re enrolled in HSA Secure, our recommended year-round HSA solution, you can plan for these costs in advance. Choose to manage your health and medical finances with complete transparency.
When Insurance Might Pay for an MRI Instead
Your HDHP may pay for your MRI at no cost if it qualifies as preventive care.
Under the Affordable Care Act, certain preventive screenings must be paid for by insurance without charging a copay or coinsurance or applying the cost to your deductible. This can include MRIs when used to screen for conditions like breast cancer in high-risk patients.
According to a 2024 analysis from WTW, more health plans are expanding consideration for preventive MRIs. This is especially true for patients with a family history or genetic markers for disease.
If the imaging is diagnostic rather than preventive, you’ll likely pay out of pocket for your deductible. This is where HSA can step in.
HSA or Insurance? How to Decide
Check with your provider and insurer before the scan to know who’s footing the bill.
- Ask if the scan is classified as preventive or diagnostic.
- Verify whether it will be fully paid for or applied to your deductible.
- If not fully paid for, paying with your HSA keeps the cost tax-free.
When asking yourself, “Can I use HSA to pay for MRI?” Understand that you have options to help make smarter financial decisions about your health.
Out-of-pocket MRI costs can vary by thousands of dollars depending on the reason for the scan. Knowing your payment options upfront can help you plan.
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Key Takeaways: Yes, You Can Use Your HSA for an MRI
HSA funds are an excellent way to pay for MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds, and other qualified medical imaging.
However, don’t assume you always have to pay medical expenses out of pocket. If your MRI qualifies, there’s a good chance your insurance will pay for it 100%.
Can I use HSA to pay for MRI? Contact a Personal Benefits Manager at HSA for America today to learn how.
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