Is an MRI covered by OHIP?
Short answer: yes, if a doctor or nurse practitioner orders the MRI because it is medically necessary and you have it at an Ontario hospital or licensed clinic, OHIP pays the full cost. The catch is the wait, which for non-urgent scans is often three to six months. Here is what OHIP covers, what it does not, and what that means if you decide not to wait.
Does OHIP pay for an MRI?
Yes. A medically necessary MRI ordered by an Ontario physician or nurse practitioner is an insured service. You pay nothing at an Ontario hospital or an OHIP-funded independent health facility. You need a valid Ontario health card and a requisition from your provider.
Can I pay to get an MRI faster in Ontario?
Not for a medically necessary scan. Ontario law does not allow clinics to charge patients for an insured service or to sell a faster spot in the public queue. That is why Ontarians who do not want to wait look at private clinics in Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia or the United States, where paying out of pocket is allowed.
Does OHIP cover an MRI at a private clinic in Quebec or Alberta?
No. Canada's reciprocal billing agreements cover hospital and physician services when you travel, not scans you buy privately at a for-profit clinic. If you pay a private clinic in another province, you pay the full price yourself and OHIP will not reimburse it.
Does OHIP cover an MRI in the United States?
Only in rare cases that the Ministry of Health approves in writing before the scan, through the Out-of-Country Prior Approval Program, and only when the service is not available in Ontario within a medically appropriate time. A long wait on its own does not usually qualify. For a self-pay MRI in Buffalo or elsewhere, assume OHIP pays nothing.
Can I claim a private MRI on my taxes?
Often, yes. A diagnostic test prescribed by a medical practitioner is an eligible medical expense for the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit, and travel costs can qualify if you had to go at least 40 km for the service. Keep the receipt and the requisition. This is general information, not tax advice; check with the CRA or an accountant for your situation.
Does OHIP cover a full body MRI?
No. Full body screening MRIs are not medically necessary tests, so they are never covered. They are only available privately, and they are the one kind of MRI that Ontario clinics can legally sell.
What does an MRI cost if I pay privately?
In our directory, a single body area without contrast runs from about $384 to $1,195 CAD depending on the province or state, with a typical price around $730. Contrast adds a few hundred dollars. See the private MRI cost guide for ranges by region.
Private MRI clinics, with prices, in one place
Clinics in Quebec, Alberta, B.C. and near the U.S. border, with self-pay prices, requisition rules and booking details.
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General information for Ontario residents, not medical, legal or tax advice. Rules and prices change; confirm with the clinic and your doctor.