Bloodwork Costs and Health Insurance: What You Need to Know

Bloodwork is a common part of preventive care and diagnosing medical conditions. But how much does it cost, and how does health insurance cover it?

Bloodwork and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made significant changes to health insurance coverage, including coverage for bloodwork. Under the ACA, most health insurance plans are required to cover preventive services, including bloodwork, without a deductible or copay. This means that you can get many types of bloodwork done without having to pay anything out of pocket.

The ACA considers bloodwork as an essential part of preventive healthcare.

To be covered under the preventive care provision, the order for the bloodwork needs to be done by your healthcare provider. If you order bloodwork on your own, this is not preventive care and will likely not be covered by your provider.

Types of Bloodwork Covered by the ACA

Preventive care is defined as a range of screenings and services that will detect and prevent illness and disease.

The ACA requires health insurance plans to cover a comprehensive list of preventive services without cost-sharing. This includes bloodwork for:

Blood pressure screening
Cholesterol screening
Diabetes screening
Colorectal cancer screening
Breast cancer screening
Prostate cancer screening

This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other types of bloodwork that are covered by your plan.

What If My Bloodwork Isn’t Covered?

If your bloodwork is not considered preventive care, it may not be covered by your health insurance plan. In this case, you will be responsible for paying the full cost of the bloodwork.

The cost of bloodwork can vary depending on the type of test and the location where it is performed. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for a single blood test.

How to Save Money on Bloodwork

There are a few things you can do to save money on bloodwork:

Shop around for the best price. Compare the prices of different labs in your area.
Ask your doctor if there are any discounts available. Some doctors offer discounts on bloodwork for patients who pay in cash.
Use a health savings account (HSA). HSAs allow you to save money tax-free to pay for medical expenses, including bloodwork.

By following these tips, you can save money on bloodwork and get the preventive care you need to stay healthy.

Conclusion

Bloodwork is an important part of preventive care and diagnosing medical conditions. The ACA has made significant changes to health insurance coverage for bloodwork, and most plans are now required to cover preventive bloodwork without a deductible or copay. If your bloodwork is not considered preventive care, you may be responsible for paying the full cost of the test. However, there are a few things you can do to save money on bloodwork.