Why I pay cash for my labs

And why you should think twice about using insurance

This is a common scenario I run into. Let me know in the comments if you can relate to it.

You get your labs ordered under your insurance. You want more than just "typical" labs because you are an informed consumer, so your doctor ordered something like this:

• CBC

• CMP

• DHEA-S

• Testosterone, free and total

• Estradiol

• IGF-1

• Urinalysis

• Ferritin

• Iron studies

• Magnesium, serum

• Copper, serum

• Zinc, serum

• Uric acid

• Creatine kinase

• TSH

• Total T4

• Total T3

• Free T3

• Free T4

• Reverse T3

• Lipid panel

• Hemoglobin A1C

• Cortisol

• Vitamin A, serum

• Retinol binding protein

• Cardiac CRP

• 25-hydroxy vitamin D

• Homocysteine

• Fibrinogen activity

• Insulin

The lab draws your blood and sends the bill to your insurance. They bill your insurance for $3,000.

Your insurance company determines that you are a hypochondriac and had no business getting so much bloodwork.

They pay $1,000 of the $3,000 bill.

The lab sends you a bill for $2,000.

Thinking you must pay $2,000, you send them a check.

Later, you see an ad for labs directly ordered for you.

You pay $600 for the same panel the lab told you was worth $3,000.

You think you are getting a deal.

Think again.

Our patients pay $390 for that panel.

Why do we get it for less?

We go straight to the lab and get the lowest price possible.

Could you get your labs covered 100% by your insurer?

Some people do, but I don't want to take the chance.

Besides which, if you cut your insurance premium by hundreds or thousands of dollars each month, what's a few hundred dollars in lab testing costs?

I wrote more about price-gouging in lab testing in this post:

How to Tell If Your Practitioner Is Price-Gouging You

I don't begrudge people making money. I just can't help but think it's a better long-term strategy to put your patient's best interests, both financially and medically, first.

Why?

Because I’ve found patients would rather pay you a premium, knowing that you will treat them well and try to get them a deal, than take a risk on another practitioner.

We provide deep discounts on our lab testing to our patients, because my top priority is getting my patients better. If they can't afford the labs, supplements, and medications I recommend, then how can they get better? If I make the labs, supplements, and medications more affordable, we will get better results, have happier patients, they will send us more referrals, and they will be more likely to renew their membership with us. It's a win-win-win.

The reason people are peddling labs for high fees is because consumers have gotten used to the price-gouging. They do not know how affordable these labs can be.

I think it's great that you can order labs when you want them, and pay a premium to do so. However, when you can get your labs for less through a practitioner, why would you order it through anyone else? Just my 2 cents. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Until next time, be well,

Dr. Stillman

p.s. If you’re a health and wellness professional or are interested in earning an income in health and wellness, then my upcoming masterclass is for you. Learn more here:

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