CTSCANNEARME.COM lists 138 outpatient imaging centers offering CT in California. Each listing shows the address, phone number, directions and the other scans the center offers.

Self-pay CT prices vary by body part, whether contrast is used and the center. Outpatient imaging centers are usually much cheaper than hospitals, so call two or three centers and ask for their cash price before you book.

Yes, almost every CT scan needs an order from a doctor or other licensed clinician, and insurance often needs prior authorization. Some centers offer a heart calcium-score scan with fewer steps, so ask the center how to book.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. Ask your doctor whether you qualify.

A calcium score is a quick, non-contrast CT of the heart that measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Your doctor uses the score with your other risk factors to guide prevention.

The scan itself usually takes a few minutes. Plan on 15 to 30 minutes at the center, or longer if you need contrast or have to drink a preparation first.

CT uses a small dose of X-ray radiation, and centers set the dose as low as they can for each scan. Tell the technologist if you are or might be pregnant, or if you have had a reaction to contrast before.

Yes. CT scans ordered for diagnosis or screening are qualified medical expenses, so you can usually pay with HSA or FSA funds. Check with your plan.

Email korlando@dexaplus.com to add or update your center on CTSCANNEARME.COM.