This week I indulged my on-going health geekery by getting some routine medical testing done, and because I've been supporting cash-based medicine, I learned a few things:
First, between established lab companies, prices vary significantly. Of the three I checked, LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, and Hunter Labs, the prices were roughly 1x, 1.5x, and 2x, respectively. That is, for my tests LabCorp was the cheapest by far. It seems it's well worth checking a few locations, as you could save hundreds of dollars in the process.
But you can potentially do even better by going online. There are a number of new direct online lab order systems, such as http://www.ineedlabs.com/, and http://directlabs.com/, which deal in cash only and thus freely publish their prices. This is a refreshing change from the established companies above, which have to play games of hiding their real cash prices in order to make more money from the insurance companies. And because all their customers are paying cash, they're all cost-conscious, so the prices end up generally being lower.
From the cheapest regular lab, I saved 25% by billing my tests with an online direct labs agency. But, bear in mind that some tests might be more expensive online vs. your lowest-cost local lab, so it may be worth splitting your order to get the best prices all around.
Another great perk for online lab tests is that you can run tests without a doctor's order, so you can avoid that hassle for routine tests whose results you understand. That is, except in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, which have all passed anti-consumer laws requiring you to consult with doctors for every medical test, regardless its simplicity.
All in all, a really interesting experience. I hope it helps you get a better deal and keep down your medical costs!