Private MRI in Canada: Wait Times, Insurance Gaps, and How an HSA Can Help You Get Answers Sooner

If your doctor recommends an MRI and you are told the wait could be months, you are not alone. Across Canada, access to publicly funded MRI scans is often slow. That is why many people start searching “private MRI Canada” or “is private MRI covered by insurance”. Most are looking for one thing: a faster diagnosis.

This article explains:

• Why public MRI wait times in Canada are so long
• Why private MRI scans are usually not covered by provincial health plans or traditional private insurance
• How a Health Spending Account (HSA) can help business owners and employees pay for a private MRI in a tax-efficient way

Public MRI in Canada is covered, but wait times can be long

Provincial and territorial health insurance plans generally cover medically necessary MRI scans when performed within the public health system. The issue is not coverage. The issue is access and backlog.

National benchmarking based on physician survey data shows that MRI wait times across Canada are often measured in months, not weeks.

This means patients are frequently left in diagnostic limbo, waiting for imaging that is needed to confirm a condition, rule something out, or guide treatment decisions.

What is a private MRI in Canada?

A private MRI is performed at a privately operated imaging clinic where the patient pays directly rather than going through the public queue.

People typically choose this route when:

• Symptoms are worsening and they want answers sooner
• Their doctor needs imaging to confirm a diagnosis before treatment can move forward
• Anxiety around uncertainty is high and waiting months feels unacceptable

The major difference is speed.

How fast can you get a private MRI?

While timelines vary by city and clinic, private MRI appointments in Canada are often available within days to a couple of weeks, rather than several months. This faster access is the primary reason people pay out of pocket.

How much does a private MRI cost in Canada?

Pricing depends on the clinic, body part, and whether contrast is required. Across Canada, many routine private MRI scans fall in the range of:

$600 to $1,200 for a single area
Higher if multiple areas or contrast are involved

This cost is what leads many people to ask whether insurance will cover it.

Does insurance cover private MRI in Canada?

In most cases, no.

Here is why:

• MRI scans are generally considered an insured medical service under the public system when medically necessary
• Private extended health plans are designed to cover services not insured by the public system, such as drugs, dental care, and paramedical services
• Because MRI is publicly insured in principle, many private insurance plans do not reimburse private MRI clinic fees

So when people search “private MRI insurance Canada”, they often discover there is a coverage gap. The scan is covered publicly, but the wait is long. The private option is fast, but typically out of pocket.

This is where a Health Spending Account can make a difference.

The practical solution: using a Health Spending Account (HSA)

A Health Spending Account, also known as a Private Health Services Plan (PHSP), allows an employer to reimburse eligible medical expenses in a tax-effective way.

If structured correctly, diagnostic imaging expenses can qualify as eligible medical expenses under Canadian tax rules. That means the cost of a private MRI may be reimbursable through an HSA, depending on the medical situation and how the plan is set up.

Who benefits most from an HSA in this situation?

• Incorporated business owners who want to pay medical expenses through their company
• Families of business owners, depending on plan structure
• Arms-length employees whose employer offers an HSA as part of their benefits program

Traditional insurance vs HSA for private MRI

Important: An HSA is not a loophole or shortcut. It must be set up properly and expenses must meet eligibility rules. When done correctly, it can be one of the most flexible tools available.

Why this matters: earlier diagnosis can change outcomes

An MRI does not treat a condition. It provides information. But that information can be critical:

• Confirming or ruling out serious issues
• Determining which specialist is needed
• Deciding whether surgery, therapy, or monitoring is appropriate
• Reducing months of uncertainty

When access to imaging is delayed, decisions are delayed too.

Considering a private MRI? This is where Garrett Agencies can help

If you are a business owner or an employee who wants better options, a properly structured Health Spending Account can be a practical way to cover eligible medical expenses like a private MRI.

Garrett Agencies helps Canadians set up HSAs for:

• Business owners
• Dependents of business owners
• Employees through employer benefit plans

We make sure the plan is structured correctly and explain how it can be used for eligible medical expenses.

Visit Garrett.ca and book a consultation to learn how an HSA could fit into your personal or business benefits strategy.