Not a huge revelation but I literally didn't know this was an option so maybe someone else doesn't either. Went for my annual physical last year and doctor ordered standard stuff like always, got the bill a month later around 300. Insurance covered some of it but apparently some of the tests got coded diagnostic which meant they didn't count toward my preventive care benefit. Fought it for 3 weeks and just wasted my time. This year I tried something different and ordered the same panel myself through a direct to consumer lab service. Walked into the same Quest location my doctor would've sent me to anyway and results came back in about a week through an app while the total cost $72. $72 vs $300 for literally identical tests at literally the same lab. The services that do this: Quest Health, Labcorp OnDemand, Discounted Labs, Goodlabs, Ulta Lab Tests, Walk-in Lab. prices vary a lot basic panels start around $30-80, more comprehensive ones run $100-200+ and most of them are HSA/FSA eligible if you have that.
Though if you have a suspicious result you should still see a doctor. This is for routine monitoring, not diagnosing a specific problem also if you have good insurance that actually covers preventive bloodwork properly, just use that. This is really for people with bad insurance, HDHPs, or no insurance. Also to add brought the results to my next physical and my doctor was fine with it.
Small healthcare hack that saved me $228 on routine bloodwork
byu/FunnyChange5081 inFrugal
Posted by FunnyChange5081
2 Comments
Just a note, your doctor may have been fine with it but a lot of doctors won’t look at labs from these places. Especially if you have a concern that you’re screening for yourself via a lab service instead of talking to them.
Glad this worked out for your basic monitoring though!
I use Jason Health if I have to use Quest. They are one of the cheapest I have found if sites that are trustworthy. Although it can depend on what tests you are ordering, and also be aware that JH has s labdraw fee which will show up in your cart. They have such a great easy to use website that seriously should get an award.