(NC) Just received a massive medical bill for genetic testing, only some of which I consented for.
Sorry if this is a jumbled mess, I am freaking out. I'm also not sure if this is the correct subreddit but I came across a similar post here so I'm starting here. I am currently seeing a doctor for ADHD. I was diagnosed as a kid and have tried a few medications here and there. I decided to try medication again and starting seeing a doctor here in North Carolina. Long story short, I tried a handful of medications which weren't working right. My doctor suggested that maybe we try genetic testing to figure out which ADHD medications worked best.
I will fully admit that I am an idiot for not asking how much this would cost. I signed a form stating that I would cover the cost of what my insurance didn't, they swabbed my cheek, and that was that. I went home and looked up ADHD genetic testing and saw that most people paid between $100-$1000. I was okay paying this because, like I said, I've been trying different medications for years and was getting desperate.
I got my results back about a month later. Instead of just running the ADHD panel, they ran an entire "personalized medicine panel" which includes 28 different types of medications, including NSAIDS, Opioids, Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors for Erectile Dysfunction (I'm a female), Proton Pump Inhibitors, Statins, Muscle Relaxers, etc. The bill is almost $7,000. I had no idea they were running a full panel, and I certainly would've never done it had I known that. I'm worried that since I signed a paper saying that I would pay for anything my insurance didn't I am just SOL. I consented to the ADHD genetic testing but not this entire panel.
What steps would you recommend I take? Do I contact my insurance first, or the doctor? Are lab test costs set in stone or is there wiggle room? Am I just screwed?
Edit: The bill has already gone through my insurance, they only covered $1720. The $6900 is what I owe after that.
Posted Apr 15, 2016, 1:48 AM UTC · edited