$500 bill for basic blood screens at annual physical

Anonymous wrote:My BCBS high-deductible plan covered the "visit" portion ($200) of my annual physical, but covered none of the associated blood tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC), Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Lipid Panel, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Just the basic stuff, no vitamin panels or anything exotic. Total cost was $700, with the insurance negotiated rate bringing it down to $500. I don't understand how insurance is allowed to not cover these sorts of basic screens. No wonder most Americans are so unhealthy. How many can afford a $500 bill when they aren't even sick?

My insurance stopped covering Vitamin D screening literally on the day I went for my physical. I was pissed and it was only $80. The insurance rep had the audacity to tell me I was lucky, some people end up owing two or three hundred dollars. I answered that with complete silence. These people are criminals.

Anyway, I let it go to collections. They eventually offered for me to pay half, and I took that offer.

I'd formally appeal it with your insurer. And while I think it's asinine that we as the insured have to figure out the ins and outs of our plans, that's the long and short of it.