I recently had labs drawn at a major national lab company. The labs were ordered by my physician. I have good health insurance which covered the vast majority of the cost of the labs. But, the lab tech quoted me what the price would have been if I had been paying cash. I was astounded at the cost of Quest diagnostics test prices!
At Aspect Wellness, I have a very comprehensive lab panel that I order for my patients which includes all the common screening labs for cardiometabolic health as well as some labs that are more in-depth, looking at a full thyroid panel as well as hormone levels and markers of inflammation. When I use an independent lab and pay cash for the labs, the entire comprehensive panel costs around $175. The small panel of hormones and cholesterol that my physician ordered for me would have cost me well over $1000 if I had been a cash customer or if my insurance did not cover the ordered labs.
So the next time you are at your doctor’s office and are feeling frustrated that she won’t order a comprehensive thyroid panel or hormone panel, just know that your doctor is aware of what your out-of-pocket cost could be if insurance does not agree that those labs are medically necessary.
When insurance companies come between the individual and their healthcare provider, costs increase and quality of care often declines. In my cash-based practice, decisions about your care are made by you and I collaborating together.
Ask me about ordering a comprehensive panel at a reasonable price because getting lab work without insurance does not have to break the bank.