Price check: Bris

Quick question: does anyone know if there's a fee for getting swabs done at a community health clinic? I’m talking about the standard public clinics, not private practices.

I need to get some swabs, a Pap smear, and a few other things checked out. Usually, I haven't had to pay a dime for a Pap, except $27 when I specifically requested a rush turnaround so I'd have my results within a week.

I know I'll eventually need to take the results over to a hospital, but right now I'm wondering if I'll be charged anything at the clinic level and, if so, roughly how much?

Also... which hospital should I even head to for this? I've never actually gone through the process before.

thanks

Sandra Adams39 said:I'm trying to figure out if there's a fee for swabs at a community health clinic gynecologist. I'm not talking about private doctors here.

I need to get some swabs, a Pap smear, and things like that done. Usually, I've never had to pay for a Pap unless $27 because I wanted my results back within a week.

I know I have to take them to a hospital, so now I'm wondering if anyone actually pays for anything there, and roughly how much?

Also... which hospital should I head to? I haven't dealt with this before.

thanks

From what I understand, you don't pay a dime since they're part of a standard checkup. If you show up early in the morning, they'll usually squeeze you in before 10:00 AM because all those samples have to be turned in to the lab by 11:00.

I was reading online that private providers charge somewhere around $500-$233, which honestly has me a little worried they might try to bill me for that too... also, does anyone know which hospital you're actually supposed to take this to?

Sandra Adams39 said:I read somewhere that if you go through a private provider, you're looking at a bill somewhere around $500.$233 I’m honestly worried they’re going to slap me with that charge too... and where am I even supposed to take this? Which hospital handles that kind of thing?

Please, don't be ridiculous—it doesn't cost you a dime if you see a gynecologist who's in-network with Medicare.
You have to go to the health department for that. If you’re living in NYC, you’ll head over to the Arlington facility, otherwise, you're looking at the Mayo Clinic.
Just go talk to your OB-GYN; they'll know exactly where to send you.

Yeah, I’m based in NYC... now I just have to figure out which clinic is actually within driving distance for me.😁

So, I was reading some stuff online claiming you have to pay out of pocket for social clinics$233 and I was just floored. Like, newsflash: I am definitely not made of money. Since I’ve been dealing with some health issues lately, I went to a different clinic near where I'm staying right now, and the doctor there basically threw a bunch of stuff at me. He said once I get my paperwork sorted, I need blood work, then pills, then he wants me to request swabs... something about a mucosal check, blah blah blah. Honestly, he talked so fast I couldn't even wrap my head around half of what he was saying.

Besides, I already have to shell out about $33 just to get my Pap smear results back, so adding a few hundred more for these extra swabs is just way too much for my budget right now.

Do you happen to know how long it usually takes to get test results back?

Sandra Adams39 said:Yeah, I'm from NYC... now I have to figure out which doctor is closest to me.😁

I read somewhere online that you actually have to pay for a socialized OB-GYN,$233 which totally floored me. I definitely don't have that kind of money lying around. Since I was dealing with some issues recently, I went to a different specialist near where I am living right now. He told me that when I go in to do the paperwork, get bloodwork done for birth control, and request swabs—basically some kind of cervical screening, blah blah—that I need to get all that done. Honestly, I couldn't even make heads or tails of everything he was rambling about.

Regardless, I already have to shell out about $33 just to get my Pap smear results processed, so adding a few hundred more for those swabs is way too much for me right now.

And do you happen to know how long it takes to get lab results back?

Ugh, I'm not sure anymore... if I remember correctly, maybe 5 or 6 days.
Look, those swabs are 100% free. I know because I use a private OB-GYN (I have supplemental insurance through a major provider that covers three specialist visits a year) just so I don't have to waste hours waiting for an appointment at a public clinic and being seen whenever they feel like it instead of when I'm actually scheduled. My specific policy only covers two swabs, not everything I might need, so my private doctor actually suggested I stick with the public clinic for those since they can fit me in between appointments and it won't cost me a dime. Otherwise, everything with a private doctor adds up, and all those swabs can cost up to $333 because the reagents are so expensive.

If you want the results in 5-6 days—and if you’re living near the local clinic—you can drop off the swabs there any day except Thursday or Friday. Otherwise, just swing by the NYC public health department (either at the Arlington office or the other one) on any weekday—just make sure you get there early in the morning.

Unless you have supplemental insurance, you’ll have to pay a little something. My boyfriend ended up paying about $17
for three swabs.

I was just scrolling through that thread about the four swabs every woman needs in her life, and some girl mentioned she actually got hers covered through public health at the Gini clinic... she even went into detail about how much everything cost per test.😕

Anyway, I'm mostly just relying on my supplemental insurance coverage.

Look, I can't speak to the swabs, but regarding Pap smears—I know for a fact that if you want to skip the line with that absolute jerk over at the clinic in downtown Chicago, you can just pay him off. Honestly? If he’s your doctor, find a new gynecologist immediately. If you’re going to shell out cash anyway, you might as well go to a decent private practitioner instead of letting someone handle your care who shouldn't even be in the profession in the first place.
By the way, when you're seeing any OB-GYN covered by public insurance, you aren't paying for the Pap or the swabs; the only thing you'd ever face is a co-pay, but since you have supplemental insurance, that doesn't even apply to you. Period.
So, your options are this: either call or drop by that Einstein guy of yours and ask exactly how much it costs to get those swabs done without waiting a literal lifetime, or—and hear me out—just switch doctors and see a different public provider for free, even if you have to wait a bit longer. Or, you could just go private. There is also the route where you put in a little effort to find a public doctor who won't do the swabs themselves—they'll just give you a referral instead—so you can go to a private clinic for maybe $50-$67 to get them done, then carry the results yourself to whichever facility you choose, and you won't owe a dime more. Personally, I wouldn't bother dealing with people who act like they own the place—it's not like they're your only option, nor is your life hanging in the balance because of them.

As for the wait times... I don't remember perfectly, but I think I waited about a week, both privately and through Medicare. For the HPV PCR test, I believe it was two weeks privately, though I'm not entirely certain anymore.

If you're using your Medicare coverage and taking the samples in yourself, you can head to either the Department of Public Health (check the hours for the Arlington or Baruna locations on their website), or go to the health center over on Rockefeller, or perhaps the infectious disease clinic at the Arlington or Mercy hospitals.

Sandra Adams39 said:I was just scrolling through that thread about the four swabs every woman needs—and man, one girl mentioned she actually used her Medicare to cover the cost... she even broke down exactly how much she paid for each one.😕

I mostly just stick with supplemental insurance—it's usually enough for me, you know?

If you’ve got supplemental insurance, they won't charge you a dime. Honestly, your best bet is to hit up Gini early in the morning—just get those swabs done and grab your referrals. You can take everything over to Arlington (they’re open 8-1? Just call 4696-303 to double check) or head over to Remetinec. I think they’re accepting samples at Remetinec through Wednesday or Thursday—you can reach them at 6521-229 or 225.
If you need anything else—just give those numbers a call and ask, okay?

Got the link too—want it?
So, I was just checking out some info on how to handle lab samples—basically the ground rules for what you can actually send in for testing? It’s pretty straightforward, really—just make sure everything is labeled right and sent over properly so they don't have to toss it... because who has time for that? Does anyone else find this stuff super tedious to keep track of?

Look, I’m not being cheap. I’m not paying extra just because I can. I’m paying for the luxury of actually getting my results in a week instead of playing the waiting game for a month. Especially now, since everything seems to be going sideways with my health lately, I’ve decided it’s better to just get everything handled at once.

Oh, one more thing—quick question on this. Regarding ultrasounds, does Medicare cover those through a public clinic like Gini? I did one privately a few years back, but I was thinking about trying to go through Gini this time since I'm assuming it wouldn't cost me anything out of pocket...

I mean, I think you're actually closer to the Spanish Flu epicenter anyway 🙂 look, just decide where you want to take your samples—or maybe just go get some advice from Gini.

You can get an ultrasound through Medicare, but be prepared to wait. I still have my referral for the Mayo Clinic, but I ended up going private and paid $167 for both the exam and the ultrasound. With private clinics, you actually get seen right away. If you go through Medicare, I'm not sure how long the wait is, but I'd guess at least two weeks, if not a full month 🤷

If you're really feeling the pressure—and trust me, I am, and honestly still am—just cut down the waiting time wherever you can! Get your bloodwork done through Medicare since those results come back relatively fast, because private labs are expensive as hell... they'll charge you at least $233!!
As for the ultrasound, I think you can find one starting at $83. Just call around to some local OB-GYN offices and see what they say.

I just moved to the new NYC area, so my closest specialist is in Arlington. Can someone please just tell me where exactly in Arlington that is located? An address would be great.
I’m planning to schedule a Pap smear through Medicare and pay $27 out of pocket to have the results ready within a week, and I'll probably handle the swabs through Medicare too.
I went to a private clinic once before, and Dr. Smith told me during the exam that everything with my ovaries looked fine. He said there was no need for an ultrasound because it would just be a waste of money.

The thing is, my periods have always been irregular—meaning I wouldn't get them every single month, maybe every two or three months—which didn't seem strange to him. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with his approach. Since I've been on birth control for years, my period comes predictably every month. My current gynecologist, who's actually down at the coast right now dealing with some stuff, suggested I take a six-month break from the pill, so I started that recently. Of course, I still need to get bloodwork done to make sure everything is okay and to see if I should even stay on the pill at all. Also, when I first started seeing my new partner, I had these awful issues where my ovaries would ache and cramp up every single time we had sex... it was terrible. All of this makes me feel like something really isn't right with my ovaries, so now I want to insist on getting every single test possible... Pap, swabs, bloodwork, and an ultrasound.

Regarding the ultrasound through Medicare, how does that process work? Do I find my gynecologist's referral and then just head to the hospital?

If you need an ultrasound, you’ll need to grab a referral from Dr. Gini... he should be able to point you in the right direction regarding which hospital or clinic can actually get it done.
For the health center address—it's over at 14 Forest Park Drive—just head to the second floor to leave everything.

Oh, goodness me—honestly, where do you all live? 😕 It’s practically a given that almost every social clinic has an ultrasound machine right there in the office, making it a standard part of the routine checkup. You don't typically get a separate referral for a routine ultrasound if the facility already has one available on-site.

coppergardener said:Oh please, Jesus—where have you guys been living? 😕 Almost every social clinic has an ultrasound right there in the office, and it’s just part of the standard checkup. If they have one on-site, they won't even bother giving you a referral for a routine scan.

😂 Sadly, they don't always have them... so if they're missing, you just grab a referral and go wherever you can. It's nothing weird, we live in Washington, D.C., after all. It makes sense that if you're lucky enough to land at a well-equipped social clinic with their own ultrasound, you won't need a damn referral.🙂

From what I can gather, it’s actually pretty rare to find a clinic that doesn't offer ultrasound services. Honestly, I don't think it has anything to do with luck—though, wouldn't it be nice if "luck" meant walking into a waiting room and realizing you won't be sitting there for three hours before being seen? Or perhaps luck is simply not being stuck in some tiny rural town where there are only two OB-GYNs in existence, neither of whom has ever bothered to perform a basic swab in their entire careers? You're just left to choose your own adventure, I suppose. Or even just having access to a decent lab that isn't a nightmare to navigate—it feels like such a luxury compared to how things are in other parts of the country. Personally, I’d much rather take a bit of a trek from my place out toward the city center if it means seeing an OB-GYN I might actually be satisfied with—you know, someone who acts like a normal human being and has relatively modern equipment! It’s worth the drive, right? Besides, I have at least two community health centers closer to me than the one I'm currently registered with. And when it comes to private practitioners, there are plenty of options that are easier to get to via the highway, but as long as I have gas money for the car or someone willing to give me a lift, the distance isn't really a dealbreaker. I mean, goodness knows what people would do if they were stuck in a wheelchair...

I’m pretty sure my OB-GYN doesn't have an ultrasound machine on-site, but honestly, I don't really care if I have to head over to the hospital or not. It’s all the same to me whether I get checked out by my local doctor at a neighborhood clinic or make the trek to the main hospital. Either way, I’ve got to travel to get there, so it just feels easier to stick with my regular doctor in the neighborhood and then deal with the hospital stuff only when it's absolutely necessary.