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Get Ready for 2026: Why Updating Your Insurance Information is Essential for Your Medical Imaging Exam
As we approach 2026, we want to send out a friendly reminder that now is the perfect time to ensure your insurance information is accurate and current. For patients scheduled for medical imaging exams such as MRIs, CT scans, mammograms, or X-rays, having correct insurance information is key to a smooth experience and timely care.
Insurance coverage can change year to year, which can be tricky to follow! And many plans update benefits, deductibles, and copays at the start of the new year. Certain imaging exams—especially CT scans and MRIs—may also require prior authorization before the exam can take place. By reviewing your insurance information now, you can avoid delays, unexpected costs, and billing complications in the coming year.
Why Your Insurance Information Matters for Imaging Exams
Not all imaging exams need prior authorization, but CTs and MRIs frequently do. Each insurance plan has its own rules regarding which exams require approval, how documentation should be submitted, and what benefits are covered. While TRA and DINW provide support throughout this process, you are the best resource for understanding your own insurance benefits. Contact your insurance company directly to confirm coverage for your upcoming imaging exams.
Having up-to-date insurance information helps you:
- Ensure CT and MRI exams are authorized before your appointment
- Prevent delays or rescheduling due to outdated policy details
- Avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses
- Allow our authorization specialists to coordinate efficiently with your provider’s office
How TRA and DINW Support Imaging Authorizations
At Diagnostic Imaging Northwest (DINW), our authorization specialists help patients and providers navigate insurance requirements for imaging exams. They handle insurance verifications and prior authorizations for most plans, particularly for exams that commonly require approval, such as CTs and MRIs.
Our specialists work directly with your provider’s office to submit accurate information, verify benefits, and answer questions about prior authorizations. This helps streamline the process, reduce delays, and ensures you can have your imaging exams done as scheduled.
Even with this support, it’s crucial to contact your insurance company directly to confirm your coverage and benefits. Since insurance plans often change at the start of the year, verifying coverage now ensures you understand your benefits, what is covered, and any out-of-pocket responsibilities.
Why Updated Insurance Information Prevents Billing Issues
Keeping your insurance information current isn’t just about prior authorization—it’s also about accurate billing. If your insurance details are outdated, exams may not be billed correctly. In some cases, claims can be rejected by your insurance company, leaving the patient responsible for payment even if the procedure was medically necessary.
Updating your information helps:
- Ensure claims are submitted correctly the first time
- Avoid delays in processing and payment
- Reduce the risk of receiving a bill that should have been covered
- Allow your care team to focus on your exam rather than administrative issues
In radiology, claim denials often occur due to missing or incorrect prior authorizations. By keeping insurance information up to date and submitting accurate authorization requests, we protect patients, improve care quality, and make sure imaging exams are used appropriately and safely.
Tips for Keeping Your Insurance Information Current
Before your imaging exam, verify these details with your insurance provider:
- Insurance carrier name and contact information
- Policy and group numbers
- Coverage effective dates
- Primary care physician or referral requirements
- Whether your CT or MRI requires prior authorization
By confirming these details, especially since many insurance plans change at the start of the year, you help ensure your imaging exams proceed smoothly in 2026 without unnecessary delays or billing issues.
Final Thoughts
As 2026 approaches, now is the time to review your insurance information. Confirming coverage, understanding benefits, and working with our authorization specialists ensures your CT, MRI, or other imaging procedures are authorized and billed correctly.
At DINW, we are committed to helping patients navigate the complex insurance and prior authorization process. Keeping your insurance information current allows you to get the imaging exams you need, when you need them, with confidence and peace of mind.