Some patients are choosing self-pay alternatives to medical insurance

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Aging Untold) —Some patients are choosing to pay cash for medical procedures rather than file insurance claims, saying it can be significantly cheaper for certain services like MRI scans.

Greta Fuller faced this decision when her 10-year-old son needed an MRI for severe abdominal pain in fall 2024.

His doctor was having difficulty getting insurance approval for the scan so she took her son to Imago in Greenville, which doesn’t accept insurance.

“I was able to get Seth in that day,” Fuller said.

Patients pay about $500 out of pocket for an MRI scan.

“That was amazing because we had talked with friends who’ve spent $2,000 after insurance,” Fuller said.

Growing trend of cash-pay medical facilities

Palmetto Proactive Imaging Center in Spartanburg is another self-pay location.

DJ Horton took his son, Grey, there for a knee MRI after the boy experienced pain from sports activities.

Because they have a membership with Palmetto Proactive Primary Care, they received a discounted rate of about $350 to $400 per knee.

Nonmember MRI costs at Palmetto Proactive are usually $500 to $600.

Hospital pricing comparison

Hospital systems in the area charge about $2,000 for a leg MRI when patients pay cash, often offering discounts when insurance isn’t used. However, using insurance can cost more — around $3,500 for an MRI if the patient hasn’t met their deductible.

Both parents said their children received needed treatment after the MRIs and are healthy again.

“We thought this was a much better economical decision, but it’s also been way more than that,” Horton said.

“We were just really thankful to be able to get that done quickly, affordable, have some information, some thoughts on how to move forward,” Fuller said.

Direct primary care model

Dr. Chris McCarthy from Palmetto Proactive compared it to a subscription service.

He said patients can often schedule same-day appointments and get more time with their doctor.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, monthly membership fees range from $50 to $100.

See the full story by Kari Beal here.