blood tests and insurance coverage

[Skywalker]

So I went to a new doctor yesterday to get my blood drawn. I usually just ask for the blood panels and they request them, I come back, get blood drawn and everything is groovy.

This time, I went in to see this new doc and asked to get my blood tested and he looked at me like I was a crack addict. Asking numerous questions on why I would want to get it tested. Finally, I was able to persuade the guy that I wanted it done and it was simply for my health. He then tells me that I can get my cbc, metabolic panel, hemoglobin a1c, tsh, and lipid panel with total choles... All covered by my insurance, however things like testosterone, estradiol, and psa are things I need to pay out of pocket for, because they aren't "important" to look for unless I have symptoms or defects such as gyno or ED.

He said if I wanted, he could tell the insurance company that I have gyno or ED.

what would be the implications of this? Lose coverage? Higher premium?

I've never had to deal with this before or go through these hoops in order to get coverage. So, rather than canceling my order, I went ahead and paid out of pocket for this, which cost me a total of 170$. 90 for test and 80 for estradiol. I ignored psa this time only because it would have added another 80$ to my total, making it 250$... Equivalent to a private lab.

What's your thoughts on getting your doc to get your bloods, is this guy just being a hard ass and I should just take my business elsewhere?

...Plus side was the nurse was a champ at getting my blood, was barely a min before I was done giving 3 vials.

 

[flenser]

I don't really like relying on my doc for much, especially blood work. I always pay for it out of pocket. It's not that expensive to do it privately,assuming it's legal in your location.

 

[strongsafety41]

So I went to a new doctor yesterday to get my blood drawn. I usually just ask for the blood panels and they request them, I come back, get blood drawn and everything is groovy.

This time, I went in to see this new doc and asked to get my blood tested and he looked at me like I was a crack addict. Asking numerous questions on why I would want to get it tested. Finally, I was able to persuade the guy that I wanted it done and it was simply for my health. He then tells me that I can get my cbc, metabolic panel, hemoglobin a1c, tsh, and lipid panel with total choles... All covered by my insurance, however things like testosterone, estradiol, and psa are things I need to pay out of pocket for, because they aren't "important" to look for unless I have symptoms or defects such as gyno or ED.

He said if I wanted, he could tell the insurance company that I have gyno or ED.

what would be the implications of this? Lose coverage? Higher premium?

I've never had to deal with this before or go through these hoops in order to get coverage. So, rather than canceling my order, I went ahead and paid out of pocket for this, which cost me a total of 170$. 90 for test and 80 for estradiol. I ignored psa this time only because it would have added another 80$ to my total, making it 250$... Equivalent to a private lab.

What's your thoughts on getting your doc to get your bloods, is this guy just being a hard ass and I should just take my business elsewhere?

...Plus side was the nurse was a champ at getting my blood, was barely a min before I was done giving 3 vials.

I don't think he's being a hard ass. He needs a valid reason to run the labs. Otherwise the insurance company may reject the claim. Sounds like he was willing to link your symptoms to ED/gyno to hopefully gain buy in from the insurance company.

I only get my doc to run TT panel in conjunction with TRT while I'm not blasting. I don't schedule appointments during blast periods for obvious reasons. The private route for labs is much better when you want things concealed, if you have the option.

However, the true dilemma is if/when you have a problem you can't fix during a blast, but that's a whole different story.

 

[rutman]

If you're in the USA, you need to get labs thru LabsMD.

 

[MindlessWork]

I don't really like relying on my doc for much, especially blood work. I always pay for it out of pocket. It's not that expensive to do it privately,assuming it's legal in your location.

Sounds like the best way as the insurer might then ask questions. Labsmd or Privatemdlabs...

 

[Dizzy]

I did mine through privatemdlabs. It was only like 60 bucks. I pay 30 for a co-pay with my insurance so it's not too much more. No questions where asked of me. Took me five min to get it done. I had my labs emailed back to me in about a day and a half. It was quick easy and cheap.

 

[Burrr]

Yep. Just do your own bloods.

 

[Skywalker]

I don't really like relying on my doc for much, especially blood work. I always pay for it out of pocket. It's not that expensive to do it privately,assuming it's legal in your location.

Is it illegal to get blood anywhere? I thought you could always get blood drawn.. I talked to a few coworkers today as well.. It's starting to sound really dumb to me that the general population seem to say getting your blood work is pointless unless doc requested. I mean I literally got into an argument with this doctor about even the most basic of blood panels (cbc, cholesterol, etc.) are important to everyone, no matter your age or symptoms.. Because who knows, you may be able to stop a horrible thing from developing or getting worst by preventive care.

Do people even care about their longevity or is everyone just a bunch of dam sheep? I mean I see a bunch of people on meso check their bloods, but if some of us were never to touch gear in their life... Would they even care about their blood levels?

I don't think he's being a hard ass. He needs a valid reason to run the labs. Otherwise the insurance company may reject the claim. Sounds like he was willing to link your symptoms to ED/gyno to hopefully gain buy in from the insurance company.

I only get my doc to run TT panel in conjunction with TRT while I'm not blasting. I don't schedule appointments during blast periods for obvious reasons. The private route for labs is much better when you want things concealed, if you have the option.

However, the true dilemma is if/when you have a problem you can't fix during a blast, but that's a whole different story.

Well I am off cycle. My levels should all be normal, but I needed to check to make sure what my numbers were at. Do you think if I lied and said I had a problem getting wood, they would take my blood for test/estro?

If you're in the USA, you need to get labs thru LabsMD.

Why labsmd? Isn't there like a hundred of private labs we can go to in the USA?

I did mine through privatemdlabs. It was only like 60 bucks. I pay 30 for a co-pay with my insurance so it's not too much more. No questions where asked of me. Took me five min to get it done. I had my labs emailed back to me in about a day and a half. It was quick easy and cheap.

60?! What did you get done, testosterone only?

 

[rutman]

@Skywalker.... LabsMD has a location that convenient for me. That's the only reason I mentioned them, plus they're the only ones I've used. But as long as you chose the correct test, either one will work.

 

[strongsafety41]

Is it illegal to get blood anywhere? I thought you could always get blood drawn.. I talked to a few coworkers today as well.. It's starting to sound really dumb to me that the general population seem to say getting your blood work is pointless unless doc requested. I mean I literally got into an argument with this doctor about even the most basic of blood panels (cbc, cholesterol, etc.) are important to everyone, no matter your age or symptoms.. Because who knows, you may be able to stop a horrible thing from developing or getting worst by preventive care.

Do people even care about their longevity or is everyone just a bunch of dam sheep? I mean I see a bunch of people on meso check their bloods, but if some of us were never to touch gear in their life... Would they even care about their blood levels?



Well I am off cycle. My levels should all be normal, but I needed to check to make sure what my numbers were at. Do you think if I lied and said I had a problem getting wood, they would take my blood for test/estro?



Why labsmd? Isn't there like a hundred of private labs we can go to in the USA?



60?! What did you get done, testosterone only?

Based on your initial post, it sounds like he was willing to get the cost of testing covered by your insurance in telling them you have ED or gyno symptoms.

If he's getting the cost of testing for ED or gyno then chances are he would've ran the test for TT and Estrogen.

It's one of those things you have to feel out and make a decision. It seems as if your gut feeling was to pay it out of pocket. There's nothing wrong with that, you were there and made a decision based on all the facts and verbal/nonverbal communication that your doc was giving.

 

[Burrr]

Before i learned about gear, and getting bloods I always did blood work at he local health fair.
The local firefighters and EMTs would volunteer to be phlebotomists and Quest did the lab work.
You could get a pretty thorough work up for about $50.

There are not hundreds of labs, there are just a handful that work with quest or labcorp to get your results.

IT's illegal to get your own in NY, NJ and RI, but you can always drive across those tiny states to a legal place.

You can get a lot for $60, CBC, metabolic profile and basic hormones.

 

[G.I. Bro]

LEF offers a CBC panel for $35. That's dirt cheap. IGF-1 for $75. I use it often to confirm my horrendous lipid profile.

You should already be taking LEF'S curcumin product anyway. Might as well utilize their cheap labs through LabCorp. These prices are for the free membership too, not the paid one.

LEF = the shizz. I love reading their magazine (marketing brochure plus some current supplement news/studies) while I poop.

 

[mojuice87]

If you're in the USA, you need to get labs thru LabsMD.

This helps! Thank you!

 

[MindlessWork]

LEF offers a CBC panel for $35. That's dirt cheap. IGF-1 for $75. I use it often to confirm my horrendous lipid profile.

You should already be taking LEF'S curcumin product anyway. Might as well utilize their cheap labs through LabCorp. These prices are for the free membership too, not the paid one.

LEF = the shizz. I love reading their magazine (marketing brochure plus some current supplement news/studies) while I poop.

What is LEF?

 

[G.I. Bro]

What is LEF?

Just a supplement company, Google it.