CAT Scan Cost

Approximately 100 million people undergo CAT scan annually. Nearly half of which are from the United States. The list of ailments diagnosed with the help of CAT scan is quite long, and includes some of the major diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders. An important aspect of the test you need to take into consideration, before undergoing it, is the CT scan cost. Before we move on to the expenses incurred, let's have a brief look at the procedure involved.

What is CAT Scan?
CAT scan (computer axial tomography), also referred to as CT scan (computed tomography), is a non-invasive process, wherein images of various structures inside the human body are produced by using X-ray technique. The X-ray unit used in CT scanner rotates around the body of the individual, thus producing pictures of organs in the form of thin slices. It is used to examine various part of our body, including chest, head, abdomen, arms and legs. During the test, it takes the pictures of internal organs of the human body, such as the liver, lungs, kidney, heart as well as bones and blood vessels (CAT Angiography).

CAT Scan Procedure
The CAT scanner is a huge machine with a slider attached to it. During the test, the person is made to lie on this slider, which takes the person inside the huge machine. Inside, X-rays are sent through the particular area of the body, which has to be examined. The scanner rotates and takes pictures in form of thin slices of the particular area. Each rotation of the scanner takes less than a second to execute. Once the necessary pictures are taken, they are saved on the computer. The doctor refers to these pictures to diagnose your ailment.

Cost of a CAT Scan
Tremendous variation in the CAT scan cost is observed all over the world. On the basis of the expenses incurred, CAT scans can be broadly categorized into 2 categories - the whole body CAT scan and the diagnostic CAT scan. The whole body CAT scan which can cost you anything between USD 300-800, while the diagnostic CAT scan can cost you around USD 600-1500. When we say the cost incurred on CT scan may vary, this variation can be in thousands depending on different situation. Even opting for CT scan with contrast can fluctuate your medical expenditure. Here's a table which will give you a rough idea of CAT scan cost world over.

Name of the CAT Scan	Cost Range
Brain CT Scan	USD 525 - 5,200
Chest CT Scan	USD 525 - 11,000
CT Bone Density Scan	USD 340 - 3,300
CT Ear	USD 700 - 7,200
CT Foot, Ankle, Leg, Hip	USD 725 - 9,600
CT Maxillofacial	USD 750 - 4,200
CT Neck	USD 875 - 6,600
CT Pelvis Scan	USD 875 - 8,800
CT Scan of Abdomen	USD 900 - 8,000
CT Shoulder, Arm, Wrist, Hand	USD 925 - 6,700
CT Spine and Neck	USD 975 - 6,500
Heart CT Scan	USD 1,050 - 7,400
Lumbar Spine CT	USD 1,600 - 8,200
Thoracic CT Scan	USD 1,700 - 8,800

Name of the CAT Scan	Cost Range
CT Angiography - Aorta	USD 1,500 - 11,700
CT Angiography - Abdomen	USD 1,500 - 17,300
CT Angiography - Chest	USD 1,450 - 15,900
CT Angiography - Foot, Ankle, Leg, Hip	USD 1,700 - 17,600
CT Angiography - Head	USD 1,600 - 9,200
CT Angiography - Neck	USD 1,450 - 9,000
CT Angiography - Pelvis	USD 1,600 - 9,000
CT Angiography - Shoulder, Arm, Wrist	USD 1,700 - 8,700

These were the average costs of CAT scan in the United States. Several factors, such as the area of the body which has to be examined, your medical insurance or the hospital you choose, play an important role in determining the cost of CAT scan. In fact, the CT scan cost may be different in two different cities or two different hospital in the same city. Similarly, the cost incurred for a same test may differentiate between two individuals depending on their medical insurance. Thus, it's very difficult to determine the exact cost of a CT scan.

Although the CAT scan costs mentioned above are quite high, there is always a possibility of negotiation with the authorities. If successfully negotiated the authorities can also give you an option of paying in installments over a period of time. Some medical facilities readily give discounts to patients who pay in cash, while some give discount to patients who opt for high-end services. Tests such as CAT scan can really affect your financial situation, and therefore having options in form of Employees Group Benefit Programs or medical insurance policies are always beneficial. A little bit of research can help you to find the best price and save you some hard-earned money.