Unfortunately, preventive whole-body MRI scans are not currently covered by Medicare or most private health insurance providers in Australia.

This is because these scans are generally considered non-essential or screening procedures, rather than medically necessary diagnostics. Both Medicare and private insurers typically fund imaging tests when they are used to investigate specific symptoms or conditions — not as part of routine screening for asymptomatic individuals.

That said, some private health insurers may offer limited cover under high-tier extras or wellness benefits. It's always a good idea to check with your specific provider to see if any rebates apply.

Our MRI scans do not use any radiation at all. They rely on magnetic fields and radio waves, making them completely safe and free from ionising radiation.

CT scans do involve a small amount of radiation, but at Everlab we use ultra low-dose protocols. The exposure is extremely low — less than what you naturally receive over a few months just living on Earth, and often lower than the radiation from a long-haul flight.

The MRI machine we use will depend on the facility you're booked into, but all of them are 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) MRI machines, which are widely used in clinical settings for high-quality imaging.

Your appointment will include both a Whole‑Body MRI and an Ultra‑Low‑Dose CT Chest, so you can expect to be at the imaging facility for about 50 minutes.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s involved:

• Ultra-Low-Dose CT Chest (non-contrast)
  A quick scan that takes 5–10 minutes, with a short breath-hold. There are no needles or contrast dyes, and it's over quite fast.
• Whole-Body MRI (no contrast)
  This part takes around 40–50 minutes. It’s non-invasive and open at both ends, but you’ll hear loud knocking sounds during the scan. It’s important to stay still so the images come out clearly.

There’s no downtime afterwards — you’ll be able to go about your day as normal.

Let us know if you’d like any help preparing for the scan.

A targeted MRI may offer finer detail on a specific body part, but it only looks where you already know to look, meaning it relies on something already being wrong. A full-body MRI flips that approach, scanning 100+ anatomical regions in one session to catch serious conditions like early-stage cancers and aneurysms before symptoms ever appear.

The resolution is more than sufficient to detect clinically meaningful findings, and if anything is flagged, our radiologists and specialty GPs at Everlab will guide you on next steps, including targeted follow-up imaging if a closer look is needed. Think of it as the wide-angle lens that ensures nothing is missed, with the ability to zoom in whenever necessary.

We partner with leading medical imaging providers across Australia to give you access to premium facilities near you.

New South Wales (NSW): Macquarie Park, Charlestown, Maitland, North Gosford, Warriewood, Zetland and Barangaroo.

Victoria (VIC): Box Hill, Bulleen, Mentone, Mornington, Ashburton, Lilydale and Reservoir.

South Australia (SA): Klemzig

Western Australia (WA): Morley, Mandurah, Balcatta, Madeley, Canning Vale

Queensland (QLD): Rockhampton (The Range), Rockhampton (North), Gladstone, Brisbane City, Birtinya, Maroochydore, Taringa, Bowen Hills, Southport, Broadbeach, Coolum Beach and Caloundra.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Goulbourn, Deakin and Queanbeyan.