Shields’ laser focus on imaging means more efficiency, and that translates into savings for our patients. Hospitals offer multiple service lines with high overhead costs that often filter down into the price for your imaging. As a specialty outpatient provider, our costs are low and our expertise in MRI remains unmatched. It’s a model that grants our patients the peace of mind to focus on what really matters: better health.

Want more information? We've written a whole blog article about it: The question everyone asks: Why does Shields MRI cost so much less?

We know that our pricing is a lot lower than most hospitals - as much as $1,000 (or more)!

There are many resources available to patients and providers in New Hampshire to compare pricing for MRI services. 

For example, a knee MRI without contrast for a Blue Cross Anthem NH patient at Shields MRI Portsmouth would cost an estimated $625. 

When we compared the same scan for the same commercial plan using the tool on https://nhhealthcost.nh.gov/, we got the following results: 

Exeter Hospital: $1,666

Frisbee Memorial Hospital: $1,399

Portsmouth Regional Hospital: $1,858

Wentworth Douglas Hospital: $1,881

York Hospital: $1,521

As you can see, the savings is SIGNIFICANT for every hospital in the region that is listed here. Please note that these prices are an estimated cost from 2019 (per the site) and is for the technical component only for all of the providers listed.

Yes! We understand the financial burden of healthcare bills can be overwhelming and offer payment options to help. 

For patients on a high-deductible health plan or without insurance coverage, Shields offers financing options through Care Credit (for MRI and PET/CT) and ClearBalance (for Radiation Oncology).

Shields Health Care Group bills for MOST of the insurance plans at our Portsmouth location, including Blue Cross Anthem, the largest provider for New Hampshire residents. In some cases, for example, medicare plans, Atlantic Orthopeadics Sports Medicine will manage the billing. We recommend that our patients contact their insurance plan and/or human resources department prior to the visit for a full explanation of benefits coverage. 

Shields is tiered as the low cost, high quality provider for all health plans in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 

Here at Shields MRI Portsmouth, you will likely receive one bill from Shields that includes the technical cost of the scan. For some insurances, such as medicare, your MRI bill will come from Atlantic Orthpaedics Sports Medicine. In both scenarios, the radiologist charge will be billed separately.