Healthcare Diagnostics

  X-Rays, CT Scans, and MRIs are super important tools that help your healthcare providers see inside your body and figure out how to make you better. But just like everything within our healthcare system things aren't simple.  Some diagnostic places can charge more just because they're part of a big health system hospital or they're located in an expensive area. Sometimes, insurance will cover more at certain places, making it look like you're saving money. But that’s not always the case, and sometimes you end up paying a lot more out-of-pocket.   

So, it's really important to ask questions about where you can get your test, how much it will cost, and how much your insurance will cover. Don’t be afraid to call around and ask different places like standalone imaging centers about their cash price options. Remember, it’s your body and your money, so it’s okay to ask questions and make the best decision for you.

Lab tests are necessary to monitor your health and wellness but even more critical when faced with a healthcare issue because it is a healthcare providers way of gathering as much information as possible.  Most big health systems have labs connected to them, but smaller physician practices collect samples and send them out to a lab that will charge separately.  You may also be asked you to go to an outside lab for more complex tests.  Either way it's important to know what is best for you because  you might think going to wherever you are told is the best idea, but health systems often charge more and a lot of times your insurance might not cover as much as you think. 

Always check with your insurance to find out where you can get the test without spending too much.  And if it's an expensive test that is not covered by insurance you may want to consider a second opinion of why that test is needed.  Knowledge is power so always ask questions.

There are many other tests that your healthcare provider may order. Biopsies are when a small sample of tissue is taken from your body and examined under a microscope. It’s often used to diagnose cancer and other conditions. Endoscopies or colonoscopies involve inserting a thin tube with a camera into your body (like down your throat or up your rectum) to take a look inside. It can help diagnose problems with your digestive system, lungs, or other organs. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test the measures the electrical activity of your heart and can help diagnose heart problems.  An Electroencephalogram measures electrical activity in your brain. It’s often used to diagnose epilepsy and other disorders that affect brain function. There are many other diagnostic tests required to properly assess your health condition, but it is important how these tests are done, but even more critical as to how the results are interpreted.  Diagnosis of a disease can be made based on these tests so always ask questions and even consider second opinions when results are interpreted.