
Preapproved Breast MRI Ends Up in a Surprise Bill for a High-Risk Woman
A high‑risk woman was preapproved for an annual breast MRI, intended as preventive care, but she still received about $1,200 in charges after the scan; federal guidelines treat preventive breast MRIs differently based on whether a mammogram is abnormal, and self‑insured employer plans aren’t always bound by state rules, leaving patients to navigate deductibles and cost-sharing. The piece highlights gaps between preventive‑care recommendations and actual coverage and suggests checking state rules, using patient navigators, shopping around for pricing, and timing scans near the deductible year to minimize costs.













