How
to Lower Your Lab Costs: Pay Less for Blood Tests, CAT Scans, Hormone Tests,
and More
Some
of the highest mark-ups among medical expenses involve lab tests (click here
to see how a patient’s $744 lab fee was repriced to only $58.32).
When you have lab tests performed in a hospital, or blood drawn at your doctor's
office and sent off to a lab, you almost always pay more than if you order those
tests on your own from an independent lab. Not only are you paying a retail
rate to the lab, but typically the doctor's office also adds their cut to the
price.
As
with most healthcare expenditures, the patient typically does little-to-no price
shopping before ordering lab work. There is also often a markup by the
doctor on tests he or she may order. So prices are far higher than they
should be. Instead of participating in this messed-up system, most HSA
for America clients are opting out by ordering their own tests.
HSA
for America Additional Benefit:
Discounted Lab Fees
HSA
for America has contracted with Direct
Labs to make their lowest pricing available to our clients and visitors.
After joining (there is no cost to do so), you may order your lab tests.
The
President of HSA for America, Wiley
Long, recently ordered a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP). This
standard group of tests provides information about the current status of your
kidney and liver function, infection and nutrition, risk of diabetes and risk
of heart disease. It includes measurements of total cholesterol, LDL,
HDL, triglycerides, liver enzymes, blood glucose, and many other factors.
This
test, which may have cost over $250 if done at a hospital or doctor's office,
cost him only $45.
It
is not uncommon to save 80% or more on the cost of your tests. You
can even use these testing services when your own doctor is ordering tests.
Just explain that you are paying for the tests yourself since you have not yet
met your deductible, and as an involved consumer you wish to minimize your out-of-pocket
expenses. If your doctor has a problem with this, you may want to hire
a new doctor.
You
can order the tests online, go have your blood drawn without making an appointment,
and get your results online within 48 hours. There is no charge
for this benefit.
