How much are hormones?

This is a recent email exchange I had with a woman who first came to me for advice a couple years ago.  At that time, she was getting hormone therapy from another doctor and wanted my opinion on her therapy.  Now she asks this question…

I have a saliva test kit that my doc gave me for 7 tests:  estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone, DHT and DHEA.  She uses NeuroScience lab and it will cost me $157 out of pocket.  I know you have access to the same test kits – if I can do one through you, any idea what that would cost me?  Would the company you use send me the results or you?  Just looking to save some money.  Thanks

Answer…
That is cheap for so many tests, but I don’t think you need all those.  When you say $157 out of pocket, does that mean your insurance is picking up the rest of the cost?  The lab I use, ZRT Labs, will send you a receipt to turn in to your insurance company for reimbursement…it should be the same codes that NeuroScience would use and should get the same repayment.

The receipt will have the “ICD-9″ or “CPT” codes.  These are the 5-digit numbers that the insurance company uses to reimburse providers.  When you get your receipt in the mail, contact your insurance company and tell them you took a saliva hormone test, paid cash out of pocket, and want to know about getting reimbursed.  All insurance companies are different.  They may just ask you for the codes and the amount you paid over the phone, or they may send you a form to fill out and send back to them.

The saliva hormones from ZRT are $45 each and the test results come directly to me, but my clients always get a copy.  You will not have to guess what your levels are by our conversation and I won’t give you a general answer like, “fine,” “good,” “low,” or anything like that.

A female only really needs to check estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone (initially only for the Rx).  Unless there is a specific reason to test estrone and estriol, it’s not necessary.  DHT, for a female?  No, no reason unless they put her on a real high testosterone dose…this happens because these franchise clinics load up on the testosterone dosing and give too much.  DHEA, maybe as an indicator for adrenal fatigue, but there is a better way to check the adrenals and everyone should be taking DHEA anyway.  I just don’t see a reason to test DHEA when you should be taking it regardless.

You are currently using hormones now, right?  I remember you having several different creams, pretty high doses if I remember correctly.  Too much estrogen and/or testosterone will bloat you and could cause your body to “fight back” against the high doses.

Download this…Medicine Coach Services it’s my rate sheet for the hormone services.

You’ll see the fees in there for the initial set-up and then the monthly retainer fee.  That way you will have unlimited access to me through email (and some voice mail) and will not have to pay another consulting fee as long as you stay on the hormones…just the monthly.

Just so you know, we just launched the lowered initial fee with the monthly retainer to get people in the program.  The pricing for both should be going up very soon so I’d get in the program in the next couple weeks if you are interested before we raise the rates.  Whatever rate you start at, is where you will stay, we are not going to raise the current member’s rates.

Getting all those tests really depends on your situation.  My female clients take a 3 hormone test initially at $135 and then need two hormones (estradiol and testosterone) tested at $90 total every 3-4 months.  I also make sure to test when they are feeling “good.”  This way we know what their levels are when they feel their best.  Those are minimums.  If I think you need other testing, I’ll recommend it to you.

The cost for the prescription is pretty inexpensive compared to other plans also.  The cream I use for women is $60 a month, cash without insurance.  If your insurance will cover it, the cost is less.  How much less?  Who knows, they are all different.

Let me know if you have any more questions.  It would be my pleasure to help you get feeling good and back to your old self again.

West