Key takeaways
- A private MRI of one body part typically costs around £250–£650 outside central London; some providers advertise from about £200.
- Check whether the price includes the radiologist’s report, contrast dye and any referral.
- Private medical insurance usually covers MRI scans under outpatient or diagnostic cover, subject to your policy’s limits.
An MRI scan is often the key step to a diagnosis, whether that’s a knee injury, back pain or something more worrying. Going private can get you scanned within days. Here’s what it costs in 2026 and how private medical insurance (PMI) fits in.
The self-pay price
For a single body part, a private MRI typically costs around £250 to £650 outside central London. Some providers advertise starting prices of around £200, often for off-peak slots, while London scans and more complex scans can cost £600 to £1,000 or more. Full-body MRI packages are priced separately and usually start in the high hundreds.
What the headline price can leave out
- The report: some budget prices exclude the radiologist’s report, which can add around £50–£100.
- Contrast dye: needed for some scans, and often charged extra.
- Extra body parts: each additional area usually adds to the cost.
- Referral and follow-up: you may need a GP or consultant referral, and an appointment to discuss the results.
How insurance covers MRI scans
With private medical insurance, scans like MRI are normally covered as part of your outpatient or diagnostic cover once a GP refers you. Comprehensive policies tend to cover diagnostics fully; cheaper policies may cap outpatient spending at a set amount each year, which one or two scans can use up. Some policies cover diagnostics in full even when other outpatient cover is limited, so this is a detail worth comparing.
With scans, what you’re really buying is time: an answer in days rather than weeks, when worry is at its highest.
The catch to know about
If your symptoms started before your policy began, the insurer may treat the scan as related to a pre-existing condition and decline it. Routine scans with no symptoms (health screening) usually aren’t covered by PMI either. In those cases, self-pay remains a quick option.
Compare cover that includes scans
ComparePMI compares how different insurers handle outpatient diagnostics and scans, so you can see the limits side by side. We don’t give advice or favour any insurer; if you’d like advice or decide to go ahead, we introduce you to an FCA-authorised firm who provides it and arranges your cover. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
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This article is general information, not personal advice. Cover, terms and availability vary by insurer and individual circumstances. ComparePMI is the trading style of ComparePMI Limited (company no. 16755241), an independent comparison and introduction service, not tied to any insurer. We do not provide advice or arrange cover ourselves and are not FCA-regulated; we introduce you to FCA-authorised and regulated firms who provide the advice and arrange your cover.