The Technology

There are two basic approaches available for personal screenings. The first relies on CT scan or computed tomography technology. This uses an X-Ray beam around a patient to produce computerized images of the tissues and organs inside his or her body. For personal body scans, a faster version of this approach, called the Electron Beam CT, offers a quick but intensive look at certain potential problem areas. In addition, it takes in the entire body rather than focusing on just one section.

An MRI on the other hand, relies on magnetic forces to get a view inside your body. While both options are noninvasive, one important difference is that CT scans do expose patients to small doses of radiology.

Just keep in mind that if you do choose to have a personal body screening, either by CT scan or MRI, this will often be less in-depth than the similar medically-necessitated procedure and there is also no guarantee that all abnormalities will be discovered.

Where To Go

If you want to have personal body screening done, you can do a search online to find what options exist in your area. There are also online directories of options, such as Scan Directory. You can also ask your doctor for advice and recommendations, or find out if this process is available at some of your local radiology centers.

What It Costs

The price of a personal body screening can range a great deal – starting at under $200 and going up to $3,000 -- depending on where you go and what you get. At the low end, you can find a quick personal scan starting at about $170 through companies like My Body Scan and Brain Scan. These website advertise that the procedure takes under five minutes and is performed by participating radiologists who offer this very low rate as a public service to help patients. You can compare this to a more typical MRI, which can last as long as an hour and provides more in-depth imaging information and analysis of the results and averages in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. For a CT scan, you can expect to pay about $350 for a quick procedure. The regular going rate for this in the medical field starts around $1,000.

So you can expect to spend anywhere between $200 or less up to $3,000 for a personal full body scan.

It is also worth noting that when you elect to undergo a full body scan, it is usually not covered by your health insurance provider. If your doctor orders such a test for medical reasons, however, your insurance may pick up the expense for the procedure.

A Tax-Deductible Expense

While you may have to pay out of pocket for a personal body scan, this now qualifies as a tax-deductible item. This can help to overset some of the costs in the end. Further, experts predict that in the future, personal scans may qualify under flexible spending plans offered by many employers.