How much do your labs cost?

[rach7612]

I went today for TPO and TG antibodies, Free T3, Free T4, Total T3, Reverse T3, and TSH. Lab told me this was ~$850.

My insurance will adjust it down (I don't know how much), but I was really blown away. I can handle the out of pocket expense of getting these once - I haven't been tested for many of these to-date and I think it's worth it. Plus, I'm nearing my deductible for the year (it's only Feb 13th.. pretty alarming..), and my insurance will pay in 80% after that. I'm still shocked, and would have changed my health insurance plan during the renewal period had I realized. Thinking about a lifetime of these expenses on a routine basis makes me a little dizzy...

Anyways, just curious what you all pay out of pocket at your lab visits?

[kl42]

mine(labs)  are  covered after the first 300 dollars(deductable)  every year. (a new thing) the insurance finds sneaky ways of not paying , they seem to slip these new things into your policy every year. if you didn't have to have regular labs you wouldn't notice it. Kevin

[Red_Star]

I pay nothing for my labs as i live in Australia.  My mother was accidently sent a bill recently and the TSH was $30.55, TPO and TgAb $52.65.  She called up the lab and they billed the goverment as per usual.

[Barb135]

My insurance covers all my labs, provided I go to the lab of their choice.  

Remember, if your TPOab and TGab come out positive, you won't have to do those on a regular basis.  That's to tell if you have antibodies and once you have them, you have them for good; testing them each time is a waste.  

In addition, Total T3 is pretty much a waste, because it's considered obsolete, now that we have the Free T3 test.  

If you don't have a reverse T3 issue, you shouldn't have to test that every time either.  

That just leaves Free T3, Free T4 and TSH to be tested on a regular basis.

If it's too expensive through your insurance, you can go to an online site and order those 3 tests for about $85.  They e-mail you a lab order and tell you which lab to go to; you go get the blood drawn and they e-mail you results in approximately 2 days.  I've done it once, and it worked out well.

[5higgins]

I've hit my deductible this year too!  I had 6 different labs and my portion came to $90.xx.  I had and utrasound and a biopsy as well so hitting my deductible took no time at all.  The upside is now I can get anything taken care of that I need for the rest of the year!  Trying to find a positive wherever I can!

[rach7612]

My previous labs - TSH & Free T4 came out to $38 after being adjusted down by insurance.