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Ordering Support

Insurance & Authorizations

Information on accepted insurance plans, guidance on authorization timelines, and simple tips to help your team schedule patients faster.

Accepted Insurers

Shields accepts most major insurance plans across New England. Check below to see if the provider is included, or contact us to confirm coverage.

  • Aetna / Aetna Medicare

  • Blue Cross Blue Shields

  • BCBS Medicare Advantage

  • Cigna Healthcare

  • Fallon Comm Health Plan Select Care

  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

  • Health New England

  • Health Plans Inc

  • Mass General Brigham

  • MassHealth

  • Medicare

  • Tufts Commercial

  • Tufts Medicare Preferred

  • Tufts Public Health

  • Wellpoint ( Formerly Known as Unicare)

  • Wellsense

Don’t see your insurer?

MRI and PET/CT Auths

Authorization & Scheduling Steps

After we receive an MRI or PET/CT order, we verify coverage and confirm whether prior authorization is required. If needed, Shields or your office works with the plan for approval (often 3–7 business days). Once approved, patients receive a text/email link to self-schedule.

  • Step 1: Order received (MRI or PET/CT)
  • Step 2: Coverage verified + auth requirement confirmed
  • Step 3: Authorization submitted (if required) by Shields or physician office staff
  • Step 4: Decision received — often 3–7 business days (varies by plan/docs)
  • Step 5: Patient self-schedules via text/email link

Need help with a payer question?

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Tips & tools

Help patients get scheduled faster

Most delays happen when payers need more clinical detail. Every payer has different requirements, but the general checklist below will reduce back-and-forth and keep scheduling moving.

  • Send the order + most recent office note together
  • Include diagnosis + symptom duration and key exam findings
  • Document failed conservative care when relevant (include dates)
  • Attach prior imaging reports/results (or explain why not obtained)
  • If contrast is ordered, include a brief reason contrast is needed
  • For PET/CT, include the clinical indication (e.g., oncology diagnosis/stage or reason for study) and relevant prior imaging dates/results

Have Questions on Pricing or payment plans?

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Insurance & authorization FAQs

Easy to understand. Easy to pay.

Prior authorization responsibility:

The prior authorization process is required by most insurances before the appointment. In many cases, Shields or your office will work with the patient’s plan to secure approval.

We also offer specialists who can provide prior authorization services for physicians. We use state-of-the-art tools to help reduce administrative burden and make the process as seamless as possible for the patient.

If you’re a provider and would like Shields to assist with prior authorization needs, please contact your Shields marketing representative.

Authorization timeline:

Timing varies by payer and documentation. For MRI, approval often takes 3–7 business days. PET/CT timing can vary by plan and clinical scenario (especially oncology-related requests). Once approved, the patient receives a text/email link to self-schedule.

Delay or denial reasons:

  • Not enough clinical detail in the note (or note not included)
  • Diagnosis code doesn’t match the clinical story
  • Prior imaging reports are missing when the plan expects them
  • Conservative therapy not documented when required (MSK/spine plans often look for this)
  • PET/CT indication not clearly stated (e.g., missing cancer type/stage or reason for study)

Medicare:

Traditional Medicare often differs from commercial plans, but many patients have secondary insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan that may require authorization. When in doubt, verifying the patient’s specific coverage up front helps avoid scheduling delays.

Customer Care:

Call Customer Care — we’re happy to help your referral team navigate coverage questions, status checks, and next steps.