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However, the way the US medical system works is a doctor decides that you’re going to get a test, and then they perform it and bill you with no agreement or war

However, the way the US medical system works is a doctor decides that you’re going to get a test, and then they perform it and bill you with no agreement or warning about what the price will be.

jakeogh 7y ago
In Arizona you can order common tests (from Sonora Quest) without a doctor. Unfortunately I don't think that's the case in most other states. Would be nice to fix.
- tdhoot 7y ago
  It may interest you to know it was actually Theranos that pushed for Arizona to change the law to allow this. [0] Might be the only good that came from their company. [0]: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/02/27/high-tech-pushes-consumer-friendly-lab-testing/24150229/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/0...
pauljurczak 7y ago
Not really. The doctor prescribes the test, but you decide where the test is done. Make sure the lab is listed as a preferred provider by your insurance plan. Good rule of thumb is to stick to major labs: Labcorp and Quest. Be very suspicious about local hospital lab, which usually will be much more expensive.
- code_duck 7y ago
  How about when you’re hospitalized? I don’t think had that choice when I was visiting Mayo as an outpatient, either. Perhaps theoretically. I have seen this option with my local physician, but it’s not as if there’s more than one lab in town that I can choose, especially with the restriction of insurance.
  - pauljurczak 7y ago
    You are right. When you are hospitalized, you are in their clutches. I asked them once about getting my own Ibuprofen tablets instead of being charged $2 each. They refused.
    - code_duck 7y ago
      Two dollars is a bargain. What I’ve seen is being charged six dollars for the tablet and $80 for someone to give it to you.
virtuallynathan 7y ago
If you don’t need tests urgently, you can shop around online and order most tests yourself (in almost all states)

However, the way the US medical system works is a doctor decides that you’re going to get a test, and then they perform it and bill you with no agreement or warning about what the price will be.

jakeogh 7y ago

In Arizona you can order common tests (from Sonora Quest) without a doctor. Unfortunately I don't think that's the case in most other states. Would be nice to fix.

tdhoot 7y ago
It may interest you to know it was actually Theranos that pushed for Arizona to change the law to allow this. [0] Might be the only good that came from their company. [0]: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/02/27/high-tech-pushes-consumer-friendly-lab-testing/24150229/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/0...

pauljurczak 7y ago

Not really. The doctor prescribes the test, but you decide where the test is done. Make sure the lab is listed as a preferred provider by your insurance plan. Good rule of thumb is to stick to major labs: Labcorp and Quest. Be very suspicious about local hospital lab, which usually will be much more expensive.

code_duck 7y ago
How about when you’re hospitalized? I don’t think had that choice when I was visiting Mayo as an outpatient, either. Perhaps theoretically. I have seen this option with my local physician, but it’s not as if there’s more than one lab in town that I can choose, especially with the restriction of insurance.
- pauljurczak 7y ago
  You are right. When you are hospitalized, you are in their clutches. I asked them once about getting my own Ibuprofen tablets instead of being charged $2 each. They refused.
  - code_duck 7y ago
    Two dollars is a bargain. What I’ve seen is being charged six dollars for the tablet and $80 for someone to give it to you.

virtuallynathan 7y ago

If you don’t need tests urgently, you can shop around online and order most tests yourself (in almost all states)