We have done them for several years and as the reports are mailed to my medical center and the Dr. verifies them. There are alot of pros and cons and it may depend on the staff doing them. I personally think it is better than nothing, but did not get them done this year as the city was too far away because of the weather.
Talk to your Dr. about them.
Some hospitals will do the same thing, but it usually a very large hospital.

Pretty much a scam. Best advice I saw was by a physician but it was in pdf so not sure all would be able to view it if I linked to it. So my link is for what I consider the next best explanation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Life Scan Science Based Opinion

I've heard not to waste you money on them.

If they have false positives they could have negative when it was positive. If they found something you are still going to pay your deductible to confirm the results or treat the problem. I wouldn't want to take a chance with my life.

Most physicians, if they don't stand to gain monetarily from pushing these tests, recommend NOT getting them. Some physicians believe that it ok to prey on peoples' paranoia & fears of the unknown & they have their fingers in this money-maker.

If you have a thorough physical & a good medical history is taken, then a dr might decide, on an individual basis, that for your particular situation, one or more of these tests are indicated.

Yes, all that, most people don't need them, but the DH's doctor had a suspicion about a blockage, but not enough to prescribe the test.

He was completely upfront about it, and told us the cost, that it would not be covered, and that he had not interest in the company providing the screening.

We went, and it was about $160, and the DH had a blockage which has since been treated. I'm glad we could schedule the treatment, rather than having done as an emergency treatment.

He's had his heart disease for almost 17 years, so anything that gives us a heads-up is wonderful.

Thanks all; you all pretty much confirmed what I already knew. It just sucks when you have crappy insurance and know that anything you go in for will result in a big medical bill.

I've had them done, and would likely have them again. I see them as being proactive in one's health care, just like one would monitor one's blood pressure at home, though one doesn't yet show any signs of having high blood pressure, or watching one's sugar, or cholesterol, etc.

Why wait to have a stroke, or even stroke like symptoms before having a simple inexpensive test run? Having them done and knowing the results, gave me a certain peace of mind, and didn't break the bank. I am still very watchful though for signs and symptoms of any potential serious problems.

Yes, there may be some false positives, but aren't there also false positives sometimes even when they are tests ordered by a doctor, and require the tests to be repeated, or further testing, or getting a second opinion?

Could it be that the health care community sees these tests as cutting into their profits? I think so.

Just my 2 cents. To each his own...........

Chemocurl you are absolutely correct. I agree with you 100%. Juellie, don't be too quick to dismiss these tests. My brother had the testing done. He had no symptoms of any problems. The test for the Atrial Fibrillation showed my brother was a walking time bomb. He went directly to the Dr. where he was admitted to the hospital. Three days later he had surgery. The Dr. told him that the tests had saved his life. My whole family has the test done once a year when they come to town. Matter of fact I had the testing done last week and am now awaiting the results. My cost was $152.00. I highly recommend having the testing done. Small price to pay.

But you need to be careful about the radiation as it is cumulative over your lifetime.

My husband and I had them done ...and we asked out doctor first and he said........sure go ahead and do it. He told us that they are tests that he can't do without some symptoms but that if the tests showed any reason, he could then do further testing and our Medicare and supplemental insurance would pay for it....they wouldn't pay for it just being done routinely.......We felt like it was well worth the money and you can watch the screens while they are doing the tests.

The problem with a LOT of medical tests (even legitimate ones in a hospital setting) are that the results are questionable, and then you have to go for more, and MORE EXPENSIVE tests.

Just one example--last summer, I had a kidney stone attack that sent me to the ER in great pain. That situation had to be addressed, and I ended up having a bunch more tests and 2 lithotripsies to blast the stones. BUT in the hospital, I was given a CAT scan. Besides the stones, it showed some questionable areas in my kidneys. Now, kidney cancer is very rare, and I didn't have the risk factors for it, BUT since the question was raised, the drs had to address it and do further tests--so they sent me for X-rays and an ultrasound. Which were inconclusive. There was bloodwork, more X-rays, and eventually, an MRI was ordered. Luckily, after all those tests (and expense) it turned out that I just had some cysts (most people over 50 DO), which were nothing to worry about. Luckily, my insurance covered a fair amount of the expense, but if our deductible was $10,000? We'd have had to spend every penny of it on me last summer.

If you're not having symptoms, if you go to your regular dr. for regular check-ups and follow his advice--then I don't see any reason to pad the pockets of the snake oil salesmen who are just trying to make their $$$ quickly now, before we go to national health. One more example of the current 'smash and grab' on the middle class. Everyone's trying to get a bit of the pie, before the middle class disappears completely. Just don't make it easier for them by volunteering to hand them your money.

Great post Azzalea.

I had it done and they totally missed the mark..... Told me my heart was good, my bone density was not good... and bp was too high.

Well my heart beats irregularly because of losing 1/3 of my heart muscle, and they didn't pick that up.

Next my bp was perfect...

and had a bone density test done at the hospital and it came back that my bones were in perfect condition and that I had the bone density of a 20 year old...

Not worth even the time to go through it imho...