Can I Get an MRI at Urgent Care?

Most urgent care centers do not offer MRIs, although some do. Check the facility website or call the urgent care directly to see if they provide MRIs. Otherwise, you may need to visit a diagnostic imaging center or another facility to get an MRI. You will need to be referred by a doctor or have a prescription, which you can get from an urgent care center. 

Healthcare can be expensive, but Mira provides affordable coverage to help you access the care you need. Starting at an average of $25 per month, members have access to low-cost urgent care visits and virtual care, as well as lab testing and prescriptions. Plans are available for individuals, families, and even employers! 

Can I Get an MRI at Urgent Care?

More often than not, urgent care centers do not offer MRIs; however, they may have other diagnostic tools such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and echocardiograms (EKGs). To check to see if an urgent care center has an MRI machine, first try looking at facility websites under “services” to see if an MRI is listed. You can also try calling the urgent care center directly. 

If you go to an urgent care center and the doctor determines you need an MRI, they will likely order an MRI, which you will need to get at another facility. Your health care provider may order an MRI when more detail about your medical condition is required and cannot be determined using an x-ray or ultrasound. 

Where To Get an MRI

If you visit a doctor for an issue that may require an MRI scan, you will likely be redirected to a facility that specializes in diagnostic imaging. Typically, MRIs can be done at either inpatient or outpatient facilities, but the facility can dramatically impact the cost of care. If you are not dealing with a medical emergency, getting an MRI at an outpatient facility is more cost-effective. The national average cost for an MRI at inpatient facilities is $2,250, versus $650 at outpatient facilities. 

Below we list some common outpatient and inpatient facilities that may offer MRIs. 

Outpatient Facilities

• Medical group practices
• Outpatient clinics at hospitals
• Surgery centers
• Imaging centers
• Cardiac catheterization centers
• Lab centers
• Gastrointestinal centers
• Physical therapy centers
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy centers

Inpatient Facilities

• Acute care facilities
• Rehabilitation centers
• Addiction treatment facilities
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Long-term care facilities