cost of dr johns labwork

[formernjguy39]

I was just wondering how much it costs for the typical labwork that Dr J likes to use for trt patients? If the place Im going to tomorrow doesnt seem like it will work out,,,Im going to fly up to see the good doctor. just wondering on costs. thanks for any help

[JanSz]

I was just wondering how much it costs for the typical labwork that Dr J likes to use for trt patients? If the place Im going to tomorrow doesnt seem like it will work out,,,Im going to fly up to see the good doctor. just wondering on costs. thanks for any help

I think that dr John's list is shorter than mine.

My list cost about $3500, cash or $6(six) out of pocket, when most of the bill is paid by insurance.

My list is on post #44, between blue lines, here:
http://anabolicminds.com/forum/male-anti-aging/66268-jans-bloodtest-april13-4.html

balance of post contains info about ICD-9 codes (how to pay for the darn thing).

The "trick" is to have proper ICD-9 codes.
Those codes are what make insurance to open their wallets.
ICD-9 code is only a suspicion that doctor have that one possibly may have desease indicated by the code.
It is not definite that one actually have that ilness.

ie, use those numbers freely (or cough up cash).
===============================================

In addition to blood tests dr John routinely orders 24hr urine tests.
$225, cash out of patients pocket (unless I am mistaken).

There is also urine test for a GH (separate test not included in hormonal urine test.

================================================== =================

Do not complain.
Doctor J is good but is not clairvoyant, he needs info to help you.

There is alternative,
health clinics,
they take $5000-$10000 cash, for sure not covered by insurance,
very few tests (paid by you),
work is mostly based on clairvoyancy.

.
.

[formernjguy39]

I think that dr John's list is shorter than mine.

My list cost about $3500, cash or $6(six) out of pocket, when most of the bill is paid by insurance.

My list is on post #44, between blue lines, here:
http://anabolicminds.com/forum/male-anti-aging/66268-jans-bloodtest-april13-4.html

balance of post contains info about ICD-9 codes (how to pay for the darn thing).

The "trick" is to have proper ICD-9 codes.
Those codes are what make insurance to open their wallets.
ICD-9 code is only a suspicion that doctor have that one possibly may have desease indicated by the code.
It is not definite that one actually have that ilness.
===============================================

In addition to blood tests dr John routinely orders 24hr urine tests.
$225, cash out of patients pocket (unless I am mistaken).

There is also urine test for a GH (separate test not included in hormonal urine test.

.

.
.

wow,,,thats steep. my insurance would only accept as out of network if that. I certainly wouldnt be able to afford that cost,,espescially considering I'd have to be retested more than twice Im sure

[JanSz]

wow,,,thats steep. my insurance would only accept as out of network if that. I certainly wouldnt be able to afford that cost,,espescially considering I'd have to be retested more than twice Im sure

In mean time I edited my post,

you have alternatives.

.

[Bulldog]

wow,,,thats steep. my insurance would only accept as out of network if that. I certainly wouldnt be able to afford that cost,,espescially considering I'd have to be retested more than twice Im sure

It doesn't matter which doctor orders the labs. As long as the lab that is doing the work participates with your insurance it should be covered at whatever percentage your incurance covereage is for in-network.

[JanSz]

Suggestion;

take script from dr John

go to your local, in network doctor,
beg him to make identical script for you.

Explain to your local doc the reasons.

Good luck.
----------------------------------------------------------------

You will not be a far away if you copy my list and go to your local doctor, and have preliminary conversation or possibly he will just make my list into script for you.
================================================== =================

When I go to my doc, I carry copy of that list (with all my ICD-9 codes printed on the bottom).
Doc's secretary takes office stationary (with doc's name and company info as a header),
then she xerox my list on top of the stationary, doc signs it, less than 1 minute and I am out of the office.
.
.

[formernjguy39]

In mean time I edited my post,

you have alternatives.

.

yes,,,thats true and thanks for the help friend :cheers2:

[Shootist]

If you're on a budget, let Dr. John know and he may be able to tailor a minimum set of labs to treat you. If you've had any other lab work done recently, take the results so you're not having duplicate tests. Dr. John usually tests lipids, sugars, cbcs, comprehensive metabolic, thyroid, etc. on top of the hormone assays.
My Blue Cross covers the cost of my labwork to some extent and I can tell you the follow-up lab work with Quest runs about $450 if not covered by insurance. Dr. John may opt for Rhine's 24 hour urine panel for follow ups and it's cheaper if no insurance.
JanSz's labs are extremely detailed and could probably answer any health issue posed. Having said that, the majority of us don't have such good medicare and co-op private insurance to be able to afford such a shotgun approach to lab work. I'd love to get $3500 worth of labs done for $6. :drool5:
I'm glad you asked, though. I worry that some guys on a budget are scared away thinking they need that much lab work that they can't afford.

[hardasnails1973]

get it done for around $500 easily.
over 3/4 of the test are on the rhiens urine plus 99 for urine gh
just need thyroid panel bare essentials, CMP, CBC, ferrritin

225+99 that 324
cbc = 25 bucks
CMP -20 bucks
ferritin =30-35
thyroid good panel for 125-150 bucks.

[Cajun]

wow,,,thats steep. my insurance would only accept as out of network if that. I certainly wouldnt be able to afford that cost,,espescially considering I'd have to be retested more than twice Im sure

I am out of network also and see Dr. J - Visits are on me but surprisingly they pick up the labs - I think others have the same experience.

[JackBauer]

It doesn't matter which doctor orders the labs. As long as the lab that is doing the work participates with your insurance it should be covered at whatever percentage your incurance covereage is for in-network.

And this applies universally to all insurance companies?

[medgerton]

And this applies universally to all insurance companies?


I have United Healthcare and it works that way for me.

[Bulldog]

I am out of network also and see Dr. J - Visits are on me but surprisingly they pick up the labs - I think others have the same experience.

That's exactly what I was trying to convey in my previous post.

[Bulldog]

And this applies universally to all insurance companies?

I don't know. You should always check first. But when I had BCBS that was how it worked and I checked with my new insurance company (Priority Health) and was told my lab work would be covered as long as I went to a participating lab (Quest participates) even if the doctor does not accept any insurance.

But all you have to do is call them and ask. They should be pretty straight forward about it and tell you if your labs will be covered or not.

[JackBauer]

But all you have to do is call them and ask. They should be pretty straight forward about it and tell you if your labs will be covered or not.

Oh my labs are covered.

I highly doubt it is universal though.

[JanSz]

I don't know. You should always check first. But when I had BCBS that was how it worked and I checked with my new insurance company (Priority Health) and was told my lab work would be covered as long as I went to a participating lab (Quest participates) even if the doctor does not accept any insurance.

But all you have to do is call them and ask. They should be pretty straight forward about it and tell you if your labs will be covered or not.

At LabCorp and Quest before they draw blood they check for collisions with insurance.
If there is any doubt they always are giving me a two choices:
skip the test
or
continue with test but first sign release form where I promise to pay if insurance refuses.

,

[cpeil2]

wow,,,thats steep. my insurance would only accept as out of network if that. I certainly wouldnt be able to afford that cost,,espescially considering I'd have to be retested more than twice Im sure


It doesn't cost anywhere close to $3500. He likes to use a 24 hour urine panel for most of the hormone testing, which costs $300 more or less. There are some additional blood tests that will cost a few hundred more - but you need to expect that initial testing will cost you close to a thousand, if you're paying out of pocket.


He is very senstitive to the fact that some of the guys who come to see him can't afford thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket charges for labs.


You can't avoid the labs though. They are a very necessary part of your evaluation.

[AnotherOldGuy]

funny how when I got the memo from my insurance.... cost of labs (might not be all, but this is one example), the cost was $2400. My insurance discounted this down to $240, and paid them that, and they accept that as full payment.

I suspect if i did NOT have insurance, they would try to collect $2400, but since they participate in ppom, they accept 10%?

Anw who says our system isn't screwed up.

[JanSz]

funny how when I got the memo from my insurance.... cost of labs (might not be all, but this is one example), the cost was $2400. My insurance discounted this down to $240, and paid them that, and they accept that as full payment.

I suspect if i did NOT have insurance, they would try to collect $2400, but since they participate in ppom, they accept 10%?

Anw who says our system isn't screwed up.

After the 20mill of illegals will get voting rights,
expect that your $2400 (and $240) will grow (exponetially).


System is not screwed at all, system is as wished and voted for by majority of voting population (plus Acorn).
.

[Shootist]

I just received my bill from Quest from my last follow-up labs. Blue Cross paid all but $20.

[RJW]

funny how when I got the memo from my insurance.... cost of labs (might not be all, but this is one example), the cost was $2400. My insurance discounted this down to $240, and paid them that, and they accept that as full payment.

I suspect if i did NOT have insurance, they would try to collect $2400, but since they participate in ppom, they accept 10%?

Anw who says our system isn't screwed up.

Yes, very true. When I get my statement from insurance for the quest bill it shows that quest bills full list price for the tests of appr 1800 but the insurance pays at the agreed upon discount rates which usually brings the bill down to 400. if you have insurance, and the insurance does not pay for some of the labs, you can try to negotiate with the lab to pay the insurance rate.

[pharmer]

I'm considering a trip to see Dr. John. My internist will prescribe testosterone but won't even consider measuring estrogen, FSH, LH or doing a trial of HCG. He's purely a mainstream medicine guy. The problem is my insurance absolutely will not cover HRT or any labs related to it.

Is there a minimum set of labs that Dr. Crisler has as a starting point and does anyone know what they are and about how much they cost? I could get my internist to order a CMP, CBC, thryoid panel and typical labs like that prior to visiting the good doc (if he will accept them) but testosterone, estrogen, LH, FSH, prolactin, SHBG, DHEAS are going to be out of pocket and not reimbursable. Anyone in this position have any experience with what the minimum lab set is and how much it cost if processed by Dr. John?

[crazycrew]

I'm considering a trip to see Dr. John. My internist will prescribe testosterone but won't even consider measuring estrogen, FSH, LH or doing a trial of HCG. He's purely a mainstream medicine guy. The problem is my insurance absolutely will not cover HRT or any labs related to it.

Is there a minimum set of labs that Dr. Crisler has as a starting point and does anyone know what they are and about how much they cost? I could get my internist to order a CMP, CBC, thryoid panel and typical labs like that prior to visiting the good doc (if he will accept them) but testosterone, estrogen, LH, FSH, prolactin, SHBG, DHEAS are going to be out of pocket and not reimbursable. Anyone in this position have any experience with what the minimum lab set is and how much it cost if processed by Dr. John?



Good question

This Quote came from Dr Johns paper TRT:A Recipe For Success.

http://musclechatroom.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34


INITIAL LABWORK

Following a good Medical History, which laboratory assays should be run as part of your initial hypogonadism workup? Following is my list, but certainly other specialists in this area run expanded or attenuated panels, per individual clinical experience and expertise. Of note, additional tests which should be included to complete the true comprehensive Anti-Aging Medicine workup (i.e. inflammatory markers, insulin, good and true comprehensive thyroid study, etc.); this chapter is concerned solely with administering TRT. And as always, the panel is tailored to the individual patient. Here they are:

Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (AKA “Free and Loosely Bound”)
Free Testosterone (if Bioavailable T is unavailable)
SHBG
DHT (perhaps)
Estradiol (specify “sensitive” assay for males)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile
PSA (age dependent)
IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if HGH therapy is being considered)


FOLLOW-UP LABS

Four weeks after initiating or changing dose for transdermal, six weeks for IM injection TRT. The time delay provides for stabilization via HPTA suppression and pharmacokinetics of medication:

Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone
Free Testosterone (if Bioavailable T is still unavailable)
Estradiol (specify “sensitive” assay for males)
LH
FSH
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile
PSA (for those over 40 with Family Hx of prostate CA, >45 yo. all others)
IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if GH Therapy has been initiated already)

[crazycrew]

funny how when I got the memo from my insurance.... cost of labs (might not be all, but this is one example), the cost was $2400. My insurance discounted this down to $240, and paid them that, and they accept that as full payment.

I suspect if i did NOT have insurance, they would try to collect $2400, but since they participate in ppom, they accept 10%?

Anw who says our system isn't screwed up.

I had the most of the following labs done at my local drs office at a cost of over 1500.00 and an out of pocket of 150.00. But I just had the following list (more comprihensive) done from and onlice souce for 300.00 total. Tell me its not a racket.


Male Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation

Lab Test & Category
Includes

CBC with Platelet Count and Differential
WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCM, MCHC, RDW, Platelet Count, MPV, Neultrophilis, Lyphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils

Chemistry Panel
(Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)
Glucose, Bun, Creatinine, BUN/Creat ratio,Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Uric Acid, Serum Protein, Albumin, Globulin, A/G Ratio, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, SGOT (ALT), SGPT (AST), Iron, Iron Binding Capacity, %saturation

Lipid Profile/Panel
Cholesterol, Triglyceries, HDL, LDL, Col to HDL Ratio, VLDL

Thyroid
TSH, Free T3, Free T4

Male Endocrine-Reproductive
Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, Sex Binding Globulin, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
PSA
Estradiol
Estrogen
DHEA-S
Serum LH (optional)
Pregnenolone (optional)

Biomakers & Metabolic
Hemoglobin A1C
IGF1, IGFBP-3
Cortisol
Insulin
Homocysteine

[crazycrew]

Does Dr John do in house labs or does he script one? If he scripts it then the lab should take the insurance. If it is in house then one would have to pay up front and get reimbersed from the ins.

[Bulldog]

Does Dr John do in house labs or does he script one? If he scripts it then the lab should take the insurance. If it is in house then one would have to pay up front and get reimbersed from the ins.

He sends the lab request via fax to your lab of choice. My insurance covers my labs as "in network" because the lab I go to participates with my insurance.