Can I get an MRI without a referral in Australia?
Not for a diagnostic scan. In Australia an MRI that investigates a symptom or injury is performed on the written request of a registered medical practitioner, and Medicare pays a rebate only when that request is in place. A small number of private screening clinics sell self-referred whole-body MRI scans, but you pay the full fee, often well over a thousand dollars, with no Medicare rebate and no clinical question for the radiologist to answer. You do not need to wait weeks for an in-person appointment, though: an AHPRA-registered GP can assess you by video and, where an MRI is clinically appropriate, issue the request electronically during the consultation. At Clinic Online that consultation is bulk billed for most Australians with a valid Medicare card, so the referral itself costs $0 out of pocket.
Why an MRI needs a referral
Imaging providers in Australia perform MRI scans only on a request from a doctor. The request tells the radiologist what to look for and why, and it is the record Medicare relies on when deciding whether a rebate applies. A referral also protects you from paying for an expensive scan that would not change your treatment.
The exception is the self-referred whole-body screening scan offered by a few private clinics. It is paid in full, attracts no Medicare rebate, and is a health-check product rather than a diagnostic test — so for a symptom or injury, the first step is still a consultation with a doctor, and that consultation can happen online.
Which MRIs a GP can refer for with a Medicare rebate
Medicare pays a rebate for an MRI only when the scan is listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule for your situation, is performed on a Medicare-eligible MRI machine, and is requested by an eligible practitioner. For some MRI items the request must come from a specialist; for others a GP can request the scan directly.
- Adults: a GP can request a rebatable MRI for a limited set of presentations — for example an acute knee injury in a younger adult, unexplained seizures or certain chronic headaches, and cervical spine injury or nerve symptoms.
- Children under 16: a GP can request a wider range of rebatable MRIs, including the head, spine, knee, hip and wrist.
- Most other MRIs — such as the lumbar spine, shoulder, hip and pelvis in adults, and many specialised scans — attract a Medicare rebate only when requested by a specialist.
The rules are updated from time to time, so your GP will confirm during the consultation which pathway applies to the scan you need.
What if my MRI is not GP-rebatable?
You have two options, and your GP will talk you through both. The first is a private MRI: the GP can still request the scan, you pay the imaging centre's full fee, and the scan often happens within days. The second is a specialist referral: the GP refers you to the appropriate specialist, who requests the MRI with the Medicare rebate attached. The specialist route usually costs less for the scan but takes longer.
Where an X-ray, ultrasound or CT would answer the clinical question just as well, your GP may suggest that instead — those scans are more widely bulk billed at imaging centres.
How to get an MRI referral online today
Request a consult with Clinic Online and describe your symptoms to an AHPRA-registered Australian GP by video. If an MRI is the right investigation, the request is sent to you electronically straight after the consult, and you can take it to any imaging centre in Australia.
The consultation is bulk billed for most Australians with a valid Medicare card, so the referral costs nothing out of pocket. Eligibility is checked automatically, and you'll know before the consult whether you're bulk billed. If you're not eligible, one flat $45 covers the consult and any referrals the GP issues.
What the scan itself costs
The imaging centre bills the scan separately from the consultation. A Medicare-rebatable MRI may be bulk billed or carry a gap depending on the centre, while a private MRI is paid in full and commonly costs several hundred dollars. Ask the centre for a quote when you book — your referral is valid at the provider of your choice.