Doctor question: Can you simply ask and pay for a certain test?

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
I have not been to a doctor in nearly 15 years but I am interested in getting a few tests done.

Can I simply ask for, if I'm willing to pay out of pocket, for a certain test? Or to just ask to the doctor to test for a certain condition, even though I have no symptoms of that condition?

Or does there need to be some symptom that would justify a certain test?
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
Its probably just caffeine. My parents were hypochondriacs when I was younger and they thought I had one of those every 2 seconds and it always came back fine despite having migraines all the time. It was just diet. I've had migraines bad enough to distort my vision, still no aneurysm. But anyway if you'd had any weird symptoms I'm sure the doc would prescribe you an MRI, they sure did at my moms urging when I was younger. Go and find out?
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
a doctor might argue with you and tell you it's a waste of time/money, but if you're paying out of pocket and don't need insurance to sign off, I don't see why they'd stop you if you're really insistent.

doesn't seem that different from going in and asking for a blood test.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
MRIs are expensive. More if you'd need a contrast agent. You have a couple/few thousand to spend?
 

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
check out privatemdlabs.com

I ordered a few tests online, went to a labcorp in my area, they drew blood and a couple days later the results were emailed to me.

It should be easy to find a coupon code as well.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
check out privatemdlabs.com

I ordered a few tests online, went to a labcorp in my area, they drew blood and a couple days later the results were emailed to me.

It should be easy to find a coupon code as well.

Hmm interesting.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,221
4,452
136
Yes, you can just walk into the doctors office and say, "I wish to be tested for syphilis" and they will have no problems doing the test.
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
check out privatemdlabs.com

I ordered a few tests online, went to a labcorp in my area, they drew blood and a couple days later the results were emailed to me.

It should be easy to find a coupon code as well.

Blood draws are relatively cheap if you can find a place with their own lab. If they send it out to Quest Diagnostics, it gets expensive fast.

As for MRIs, probably 2-3k for a set of brain images with and without contrast. Yes, you can do it and pay for it yourself if you can find a radiologist tech to schedule it for you. You'll need to get a radiologist to read it, and maybe repeat in 3 months if there is anything that seems strange.

If you have insurance, see your primary care doctor, and convince them why you need the expensive test. With PPO, I was about $250. My previous MRIs under HMO had no additional fees.
 

Apple Of Sodom

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2007
1,808
0
0
Find a private medical imaging facility - one of those places that just does outpatient imaging. Let them know you are willing to pay cash and ask for the radiologist to write the order for you.

Source: I work in the medical imaging field.

And yes, an MR Brain w/ and w/o Contrast should run you about $2k. But if you are private pay they might reduce it. I know of a place that reduces it down to 30 percent for private pay ($600 or so.)
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
Find a private medical imaging facility - one of those places that just does outpatient imaging. Let them know you are willing to pay cash and ask for the radiologist to write the order for you.

Source: I work in the medical imaging field.

And yes, an MR Brain w/ and w/o Contrast should run you about $2k. But if you are private pay they might reduce it. I know of a place that reduces it down to 30 percent for private pay ($600 or so.)

Does that price include the cost of having a doctor examine the results and give a conclusion?
 

SirStev0

Lifer
Nov 13, 2003
10,449
6
81
MRI's are expensive and require prior authorization.
Also CTA of the Head would work just as well.
Also... just go to fucking doctor. You probably need a check up anyway.
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
MRI's are expensive and require prior authorization.
Also CTA of the Head would work just as well.
Also... just go to fucking doctor. You probably need a check up anyway.

A doctor is going to send me to the cleaners, giving me every test under the sun. That's how they make their money.
 

JManInPhoenix

Golden Member
Sep 25, 2013
1,500
1
81
Apply for a good quality life insurance policy - the life insurance company will pay for the physical. When I had mine done, they drew 4 vials of blood and tested those for just about everything...
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
A doctor is going to send me to the cleaners, giving me every test under the sun. That's how they make their money.

Not if you find a good doctor.

Which, admittedly, can be one hell of a PITA. Search for reviews, which ones are in-network (and then compare with reviews), and just scour for opinions on the web.
It helps if there is a good doctor that can be vetted by someone in your family/network of friends.
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
Not if you find a good doctor.

Which, admittedly, can be one hell of a PITA. Search for reviews, which ones are in-network (and then compare with reviews), and just scour for opinions on the web.
It helps if there is a good doctor that can be vetted by someone in your family/network of friends.

I'm going to attempt to. Easier said than done though.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
I had one a few years ago when I was having pretty bad problems with persistent migraines. Doctor acted like it was a no-brainer (no pun intended) and they went right ahead with it.

Then told me that they apparently needed prior insurance authorization, which they never obtained, and tried to bill me for it. I wanna say it was like 5k. But I might be thinking of the colonoscopy I later had where they pretty much did the same thing. In both cases I pretty much told them to fuck off. I said that you, the hospital, are a bunch of incompetent douchebag crooks. So is the insurance company. Have fun duking it out with them. You will not receive a dime from me other than what was already disclosed and agreed upon.

Somebody paid somebody at some point. I could care less. Good god our medical industry is such a sham. And no, I'm not a hypochondriac. The migraine thing was pretty frightening and I went on all kinds of medications to try and address them. Usually (off-label, I assume) anti-convulsants, anti-psychotics, and other scary shit that made things far worse. The neurologist that was treating me deserves to be shot.

The other thing? Hemorrhoids. I endured much agony and worrying over 'prostate problems' (yes, including many exams) before finally being referred to a GI doctor who deemed the butt-scope necessary. After inspecting the entirety of my colon, they deduced that I had internal hemorrhoids. Right at my 'exit' (though they obviously gleefully mistook it for an entrance). The uncomfortable link to be made...I had some old dude shoving his wrinkly hand up my ass, pushing on butt-sores and saying 'oh, that hurts? Guess your prostate is inflamed.' Fuck. You. You. Motherfucker.

Pardon me if that's a bit too in-depth. I share this information freely so that others may be abhorred by the misery that doctors tend to needlessly inflict because of carelessness and 'specialization' that makes them (supposedly) good at treating small areas of the human body, but completely inept at treating actual human beings as a whole.

Testing bodily fluids is simple and can be done by simply walking into an independent lab and requesting the test, provided you can pay for it (the prices are much more reasonable). An MRI is not something I would advise before seeing some GOOD, thoroughly vetted doctors. If they'll do it at all. Others are saying 'sure, they'll do it if you're not trying to request a test at the expense of your insurance.' I find that dubious...yeah, they're in it to make money, but they need to have some assurance that you will actually pay that money. I cannot speak to how that side works (if prepayment may be accepted or some such).
 

skimple

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2005
1,283
3
81
I have not been to a doctor in nearly 15 years but I am interested in getting a few tests done.

Can I simply ask for, if I'm willing to pay out of pocket, for a certain test? Or to just ask to the doctor to test for a certain condition, even though I have no symptoms of that condition?

Or does there need to be some symptom that would justify a certain test?

Before you spend a couple of grand on an MRI, why wouldn't you spend $100 to talk to a general practitioner about your concerns? If you have insurance, it may cost you less than that. You can always refuse any test/prescription/advice that he gives you.

Someday you will get sick and need an antibiotic, cast, or some other prescription. Having a doctor that has seen you before will be a big help.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,389
1,778
126
Some labs will perform services without you even have to be seen by a doctor. The insurance billing structure is what gives power to the doctors to determine what tests you get. They do this to minimize unneeded testing by those covered by their policies.

What's important though is getting a followup visit by your physician. If you see them, have them order the labs (even better if they're in-house), they can look at the labs and assess whether or not you need additional testing. For example, they'll check your potassium levels, cholesterol, vitamin D, and everything else to make sure key markers in your body's chemistry are within normal limits... If all looks good they'll schedule another checkup next year....otherwise, they may give you a prescription for Vitamin D or give you health recommendations to get back on track.

If you skip seeing them to begin with, they may suggest additional labs or make sure you were fasting for the initial test. You may get stuck paying for the same tests over again just to get their opinion.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
Find a private medical imaging facility - one of those places that just does outpatient imaging. Let them know you are willing to pay cash and ask for the radiologist to write the order for you.

Source: I work in the medical imaging field.

And yes, an MR Brain w/ and w/o Contrast should run you about $2k. But if you are private pay they might reduce it. I know of a place that reduces it down to 30 percent for private pay ($600 or so.)

What he said.

<-- also works in medical imaging field.