posted
Has anyone else out there been frustrated by labs that are "cash only" and will not bill your insurance? For example...My last LLMD who said he wanted to test for magnesium by scraping skin cells inside my mouth instead of doing blood work? 290 dollars instead of it being covered completely. Has anyone else been annoyed with such tests? Do Lyme patients have the right to ask questions about such things? Or should we just sit back while our bank accounts are drained?
Posts: 63 | From dc | Registered: Sep 2010
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Although the lab will not submit the bill to insurance, I think that you can. You may need to call around to get the right form to use.
The blood test for magnesium might be covered by insurance, but what good is it if it doesn't give the information that you need?
Are you taking mag supplements and eating foods high in magnesium?
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
A lot of this stuff my insurance won't cover. My LLMD knows that I need the best way and covered way to test. He usually lets me make a choice understanding that there are 3 of us. Some testing I will pay out of pocket for and sometimes it is only for my sickest child.
My sister is sick and out of work so she questions almost everything. Her doctor I think knows it comes with the territory. Her insurance is horrible.
It is frustrating when you can't get what your doctor tells you you need to get well.
I'm sure your doctor knows the difference in the magnesium testing and what might give him more diagnostic data. I would ask.
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
I do consume foods high in magnesium and take supplements. When it comes to cash labs I have been shocked to learn that:
A doctor can be the owner of the lab himself. (that will not take insurance)
There are many tests that evaluate adrenals, nutrition, etc that are available to the medical community and covered by many insurance carriers.
Mine will only reject a claim if the test is available from a mainstream lab already.
Posts: 63 | From dc | Registered: Sep 2010
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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Yep ALL my tests and now my daughter's test were cash up front. Mine exceeded $5,000 and hers were close to $3,000. Lab Corp was the only place that took insurance!
I'm finding out this week that the Compounding Pharmacies don't accept insurance either! So my B 12, cholestyramine, etc... are also cash upfront. I have yet succeed in getting my insurance to reimburse me for this... nor did they pay for my Bicillin. Sooo FRUSTRATING!!
Lyme is definitely a rich man's disease!!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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