The Cost???

cowboyshootergirl · 06-22-2009, 01:15 PM

Hi folks,
I am going to have to seek treatment outside of my Insurance. I guess Kaiser docs wont treat unless you have a TSH of over 4.

I went on a website called thyroid-info dot com to look up some docs. I've been calling around and have questions re: prices for office visits.

I had one recepionist tell me its a flat fee of $800.00 for the year. Another was $450 for the first appt. $450 for the 2nd and $250 thereafter. Another in was $250 for the 1st and $125 for followups.
The one I did book with was $175 for the 1st and $65 followups.

Is this normal? Are these correct prices?

CherryCola · 06-22-2009, 02:48 PM

That sounds about the "norm" for the docs in my area.

My guy was $240 at the initial consultation and ~ $100 there after.

Ilpirata · 06-22-2009, 04:14 PM

I found my Endo on the Top Docs website. I paid $350 for the first visit which was about an hour long. Follow up visits are between 80-150. They will all be different although some do give discounts for cash. Also my lab gives a 40% discount for cash.

meb2004 · 06-25-2009, 07:15 PM

i have to pay my doctor cash, but they will run my insurance for the labwork, so somehow my labs are covered. office visits run $90 to $350, with the first being $350 and subsequent typically $150 or $125. Fortunately though, he suggested that we could do brief phone conversations for follow up on periodic labs (he mails me a lab form and i go to a separate location to get blood drawn). Also, my insurance is covering the labwork so that helps. My doc is "out-of-network" so i don't get any relief from insurance until i hit the $2,000 mark.

bfuser · 06-26-2009, 05:53 AM

Prices depend on where you live and who the doctor is. I paid $475 for the first visit and $225 per visit thereafter. While the doctor did not accept my insurance I was able to file on my own and be reimbursed 60% of each visit's cost.

nonstickpam107 · 07-01-2009, 07:36 AM

My yearly labs (I have disabilities) are around 1300 dollars (that includes an endocrine workup too...if it was ONLY the endocrine/adrenal work up I think it would be somewhere around 800 dollars). My thyroid doc was charging me (and he didn't charge everyone the same) about 250 a visit. My insurance also reimbursed me for many things...not at 80% though...slightly under for some things.

Pam

knutson0140 · 07-08-2009, 04:37 PM

Hi all -- I think we all would agree how much doctors charge when they know your not going through insurance. I have been trying to learn more to be much more proactive about my health and its difficult trying to manage the doctors and insurance companies and everyone else that stands in the way. I have been finding that STTM site very helpful and also I am finding sources for my labs that I can buy without my doctor and without trying to go through insurance. I have been going through healthcheckusa.com and they are very cheap for blood tests. Take a look and let me know what you think.

My 2 cents.

Online Lab Tests: blood work, blood testing and laboratory tests

nonstickpam107 · 07-08-2009, 05:55 PM

That's why I've been giving Online Lab Tests: blood work, blood testing and laboratory tests as a lab site reference for over seven years.

Pam

watcher513 · 07-18-2009, 01:31 AM

The thing with Kaiser is, you have to be a Very Squeeky Wheel. I've been fighting them for a few years regarding thyroid issues. It came to a head so to speak, this past May w/my PCP. I'm in N. Calif and it's tough in this state anyway, but especially in the Kaiser system. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't let up and literally argued with him until he either gave me some Cytomel at Least, or referred me to an Endo. It wasn't a pleasant meeting for sure, everyone was pissed off, but, at least he referred me! So I at least got That result. I'm in the process of seeing how being referred works out.

At least I'm now on some generic Cytomel also (a first, yeah!!) and I believe I'm starting to feel a little better. I know it'll take awhile because it's only been a month, but there's some improvement already. I've known about being hypo since the late 90's. My dad was also. Tell them how crappy you feel - emphasize it.

My next step was going to be taking in the Thyroid panel 2 lab results from that website and asking them to interpret them, lol. "here, USE THESE!"

inatic · 07-18-2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

That's why I've been giving Online Lab Tests: blood work, blood testing and laboratory tests as a lab site reference for over seven years.

Quote:

My next step was going to be taking in the Thyroid panel 2 lab results from that website and asking them to interpret them, lol. "here, USE THESE!"

Pam/those having used healthcheck.

does Health check interpret 'normal' as low or indicate one might need medical attention?

nonstickpam107 · 07-18-2009, 10:22 AM

Healthcheck doesn't 'interpret' at all. The interpretation is always (legally, medically speaking) up to your doctor of choice. This is why it is SO difficult for many to find a doctor who will interpret correctly. Healthcheck would be 'overstepping' it's medical/legal boundaries if they 'interpreted'.

I know what you are asking though...does healthcheck say something is 'low' or 'high' like some other labs. But the lab my doctor uses only gives a 'low' if it's UNDER range or 'high' if it's ABOVE the range (that doesn't help anyone, and could even hurt if the doc you go to thinks the lab 'interpreted' it for him). We all know how that comes out..let's say the patient gets a ferritin. The range is 10-210 and your test is an 11 and it's not flagged at all, so the doc glances at it and says 'Oh, you're normal'. Sigh.

Pam

watcher513 · 07-18-2009, 02:52 PM

I didn't end up getting the labs there because I got the referral so I don't know if they show a range. Highly doubt they'd interpret. Kaiser labs show a range and only flag when lower or higher than range with a L or H, that's it. Then it's up to the doc (heaven help us most of the time) to interpret, If they do/will.

06-22-2009, 01:15 PM	#1
cowboyshootergirl MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: High Desert - California Posts: 1,887 Gallery: cowboyshootergirl Stats: I'm PREGNANT!!!! WOE: Eating as healthy as possible.	The Cost??? Hi folks, I am going to have to seek treatment outside of my Insurance. I guess Kaiser docs wont treat unless you have a TSH of over 4. I went on a website called thyroid-info dot com to look up some docs. I've been calling around and have questions re: prices for office visits. I had one recepionist tell me its a flat fee of $800.00 for the year. Another was $450 for the first appt. $450 for the 2nd and $250 thereafter. Another in was $250 for the 1st and $125 for followups. The one I did book with was $175 for the 1st and $65 followups. Is this normal? Are these correct prices? __________________ Susie "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

06-25-2009, 07:15 PM	#4
meb2004 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 814 Gallery: meb2004 Stats: 146 / 135 5'9" WOE: weston price / whole foods Start Date: February 2004	i have to pay my doctor cash, but they will run my insurance for the labwork, so somehow my labs are covered. office visits run $90 to $350, with the first being $350 and subsequent typically $150 or $125. Fortunately though, he suggested that we could do brief phone conversations for follow up on periodic labs (he mails me a lab form and i go to a separate location to get blood drawn). Also, my insurance is covering the labwork so that helps. My doc is "out-of-network" so i don't get any relief from insurance until i hit the $2,000 mark. __________________ I whole foods and weight-lifting!

07-08-2009, 04:37 PM	#7
knutson0140 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 Gallery: knutson0140	WOW!! I can't believe how much people pay without insurance. Hi all -- I think we all would agree how much doctors charge when they know your not going through insurance. I have been trying to learn more to be much more proactive about my health and its difficult trying to manage the doctors and insurance companies and everyone else that stands in the way. I have been finding that STTM site very helpful and also I am finding sources for my labs that I can buy without my doctor and without trying to go through insurance. I have been going through healthcheckusa.com and they are very cheap for blood tests. Take a look and let me know what you think. My 2 cents. Online Lab Tests: blood work, blood testing and laboratory tests Last edited by knutson0140; 07-08-2009 at 04:38 PM.. Reason: fix spelling mistake

07-18-2009, 10:22 AM	#11
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,775 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Healthcheck doesn't 'interpret' at all. The interpretation is always (legally, medically speaking) up to your doctor of choice. This is why it is SO difficult for many to find a doctor who will interpret correctly. Healthcheck would be 'overstepping' it's medical/legal boundaries if they 'interpreted'. I know what you are asking though...does healthcheck say something is 'low' or 'high' like some other labs. But the lab my doctor uses only gives a 'low' if it's UNDER range or 'high' if it's ABOVE the range (that doesn't help anyone, and could even hurt if the doc you go to thinks the lab 'interpreted' it for him). We all know how that comes out..let's say the patient gets a ferritin. The range is 10-210 and your test is an 11 and it's not flagged at all, so the doc glances at it and says 'Oh, you're normal'. Sigh. Pam __________________ So many fireworks. So little time. "You can't get a patent on a pig part"

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06-22-2009, 02:48 PM	#2
CherryCola Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,038 Gallery: CherryCola Stats: Sz 10/6/4	That sounds about the "norm" for the docs in my area. My guy was $240 at the initial consultation and ~ $100 there after.

06-22-2009, 04:14 PM	#3
Ilpirata Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Beautiful San Jose, CA Posts: 7,456 Gallery: Ilpirata Stats: 263/193/170 for now... WOE: Low Carb JUDD (Alternate Day Diet) Start Date: September 2007	I found my Endo on the Top Docs website. I paid $350 for the first visit which was about an hour long. Follow up visits are between 80-150. They will all be different although some do give discounts for cash. Also my lab gives a 40% discount for cash.

06-26-2009, 05:53 AM	#5
bfuser Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 290 Gallery: bfuser Stats: 221/213/130 WOE: Metobolic Typing Start Date: November 2006	Prices depend on where you live and who the doctor is. I paid $475 for the first visit and $225 per visit thereafter. While the doctor did not accept my insurance I was able to file on my own and be reimbursed 60% of each visit's cost.

07-01-2009, 07:36 AM	#6
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,775 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	My yearly labs (I have disabilities) are around 1300 dollars (that includes an endocrine workup too...if it was ONLY the endocrine/adrenal work up I think it would be somewhere around 800 dollars). My thyroid doc was charging me (and he didn't charge everyone the same) about 250 a visit. My insurance also reimbursed me for many things...not at 80% though...slightly under for some things. Pam

07-08-2009, 05:55 PM	#8
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,775 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	That's why I've been giving Online Lab Tests: blood work, blood testing and laboratory tests as a lab site reference for over seven years. Pam

07-18-2009, 01:31 AM	#9
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 235 Gallery: watcher513	The thing with Kaiser is, you have to be a Very Squeeky Wheel. I've been fighting them for a few years regarding thyroid issues. It came to a head so to speak, this past May w/my PCP. I'm in N. Calif and it's tough in this state anyway, but especially in the Kaiser system. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't let up and literally argued with him until he either gave me some Cytomel at Least, or referred me to an Endo. It wasn't a pleasant meeting for sure, everyone was pissed off, but, at least he referred me! So I at least got That result. I'm in the process of seeing how being referred works out. At least I'm now on some generic Cytomel also (a first, yeah!!) and I believe I'm starting to feel a little better. I know it'll take awhile because it's only been a month, but there's some improvement already. I've known about being hypo since the late 90's. My dad was also. Tell them how crappy you feel - emphasize it. My next step was going to be taking in the Thyroid panel 2 lab results from that website and asking them to interpret them, lol. "here, USE THESE!"

07-18-2009, 02:52 PM	#12
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 235 Gallery: watcher513	I didn't end up getting the labs there because I got the referral so I don't know if they show a range. Highly doubt they'd interpret. Kaiser labs show a range and only flag when lower or higher than range with a L or H, that's it. Then it's up to the doc (heaven help us most of the time) to interpret, If they do/will.