I recently visited my doctor’s office for a routine physical. The doctor took a blood sample that day. It all seemed like a very routine check and never was I informed that any out of the ordinary tests would be conducted.
Sure enough, two weeks later I get a bill from quest diagnostics charging me $215 for a vitamin d-3 test.
Why is blue cross blue shield not paying if this is a routine physical?
Why did the doctor not warn me? Why is quest charging so much? I called all of them, and everyone blames everyone else. The bottom line is, this is a huge rip-off. Beware before you take any blood test and make sure your doctor does not order any tests that will result in such outrageous fees.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Some of the lab charges have to be ordered for specific diagnosis before insurance carriers will cover it. They want to know why your doctor thinks you need your vitamin D checked. Do you have osteoporosis, have you been on long term steroids that could have resulted in bone loss e.t.c Your doctor has to provide a diagnosis that meets medical necessity before your insurance will paid for services. This is a quality initiative, which prevents doctors from ordering any test without medically necessary reasons. It prevents abuse and over-utilization of medical services and in long run reduces high cost of health care.
Lateef Ayinde, BS, CCSP, ACS-EM.