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What do you do if you need to get some blood work done, but don’t have health insurance that covers the tests you need? You can save money on your blood work by ordering discounted lab tests online and then going to local independent testing centers. Ideally, you should avoid getting your blood work done at the Hospital since they charge a premium.

How to Save Money on Your Lab Tests

Don’t Go to The Hospital

Getting your lab tests done at the hospital will be the most expensive way to get your blood work done.

For me, the only reason to get lab work done at a hospital would be in emergency situations or when you need specialized care. For example, when my five year old son needed lab tests done earlier this year, I felt like the Phlebotomists at the Primary Children’s Hospital would offer a better (less scary) experience for my son than a regular lab.

Confirm the Exact Tests You Need

Confirm with your doctor the exact tests that they want to be done for you and only ask for those tests.

In some cases, the doctor may want a series of tests done. If these tests line up conveniently with one of the lab’s bundles, then choosing that bundle may save you some money. Otherwise, only get the blood work done that you know you need.

Get Lab Work Done with your Doctor

If you are a member of a Direct Primary Care, your doctor will likely be able to provide you with significant discounts on all of your lab work. Many Direct Primary Care doctors get wholesale pricing on lab work, and pass on the savings to their patients. I previously wrote an article discussing what Direct Primary Care is, and how you can save hundreds of dollars each month on your healthcare costs.

Find a Discounted Lab Online

The most trustworthy lab sites for people looking for lab work are UltaLabs.com, Discountedlabs.com, and Requestatest.com. Many local clinics also use healthtestingcenters.com as a platform for online orders.

Request A Test

Request A Test is easy to evaluate, as it sells the same name-brand tests that you would get at a hospital or a lab clinic.

My husband recently used Request A Test to get some lab tests done. The entire process was very easy, and it was nice that we didn’t need a doctor’s note or anything to order our tests. There were plenty of labs to choose from to get his blood work done. It only took a few days before he received an email with all of his test results.

Discounted Labs

Discounted Labs offers complete blood count tests that are significantly cheaper than the brand name equivalent.

They don’t operate in all states. While checking the price of the test you need, you will also need to make sure that it is available where you live.

Ulta Labs

UltaLabs only sells tests in bundles. If you only need to get one test done, it will probably be cheaper just to get it done full price at the in-person lab.

However, if your doctor has ordered a particular suite of tests, then you can likely find a bundle on UltaLabs for what you need.

Local Independent Testing Center

All of the discounted labs mentioned above will have their tests fulfilled by either LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, or a local lab near you. Before you place your order, make sure you know and approve of the available locations. Whichever lab and location you choose will be the place you need to go to get your blood drawn by a Phlebotomist.

Do you need more affordable health care?

Be sure to read my blog post about how to save hundreds (or more) every month on your health care costs and find out which is the best Health Share plan for large and unexpected medical costs.