topic Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings in Wellness

Lifeline Medical Screenings

BunSnoop — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 16:45:05 GMT

Hi, Has anyone ever had the screenings by Lifeline? I know my insurance will not pay for them and I have no problem with paying the $139 as that seems reasonable for 5 tests. I read some reviews on-line and some people said the employee's treated them like they were on an assembly line, yanked off the electrodes, etc., the lines are long, etc.

My health is very good. I'm 59 and the only issue I have is high cholesterol. My dad passed away at 59 from a heart attack, my mom had high blood pressure and my brother at age 55 needed an emergency stent. Due to my family history, my PCP said it would not hurt to have the tests done. The 5 tests they do is carotid artery screening, heart rhythm screening, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, peripheral arterial disease screening and osteoporosis risk assessment.

If you've had tests done by Lifeline, would you give them a good recommendation?

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

SXMGirl — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 16:48:48 GMT

@BunSnoop, every few years, DH and I go and have tests done with them. The staff has always treated us very well. Ours all seem to be done at churches, which might make a difference. We get the results back in a few weeks and then take them to our family doctor. Our doctor always tells us that she can order the tests for us so that our insurance will pay for them, but at Lifeline, the tests are all done in one place and in just about an hour. Neither DH nor I want to spend weeks trying to get tests done through our insurance. We can afford to do them through Lifeline now, but who knows what will happen in the future.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

susan kay — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:06:43 GMT

@BunSnoop, I've had screenings done by Lifeline. Altogether, over the past 15 years, I've had the same tests you are talking about done about 3 or 4 times, with the recent one being several months ago. I have heart issues on both sides of my family so I was really trying to be "preventative" with those tests.

I am now fairly neutral about whether I would highly recommend them or not. Mine have been done at different churches. This past time, although I had a specific appointment, there was a sign saying that you could wait up to 90 minutes for the actual screenings. Not a big deal, but an inconvenience since I wasn't prepared for that. This time, it was all done at one table, with 3 or 4 peope hooking you up at the same time. No one was rude, but it was a bit hurried. It was just different. They used to have one area designated for each test. Since you have not had the tests done before, you might want to try it. I'm not sure about how those tests compare to ones that are more costly and take much longer to perform.

I've not had anything show up, but I'm not sure what, if anything, that means. Will I have the tests done again? I'm really not sure. Definitely won't be doing them again within the next year or so, but am undecided about whether I would go again.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

x Hedge — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:08:01 GMT

@BunSnoop

As I recall, @SeaMaiden posted a thread about this about a year ago. I can't find that one, but there was a lot of good, recent info in there, so hopefully she'll see this and put a link to it into your thread.

Meanwhile, here's an older discussion:

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Wellness/Lifeline-medical-screenings/m-p/2199812#M63537

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

susan kay — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:12:08 GMT

I should add that I, like you, know that my insurance wouldn't cover those tests. If they did, I would definitely opt to go with the tests that my insurance would cover. But, as mentioned, since you've not had the Lifeline before, and because your insurance won't cover the tests, I guess I would just look at it as what could it hurt to see how the process works.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

RedTop — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:49:39 GMT

@BunSnoop,

The advantage to the Lifeline screenings is the ability to get multiple tests done in a short period of time for a reasonable fee.

The key is in taking those results to your doctor for any follow up. My doctor prefers to order these types of tests for me and have them done locally. Any of his patients who have Lifeline screenings done and have an issue for follow up, usually wind up repeating the test locally, as my doctor will not treat based on those test results.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

BirkiLady — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:03:59 GMT

@BunSnoop All of these tests are completed by medical professionals with top-quality equipment and covered by insurance. Why would anyone have LifeLine do the testing in an off-site premise? And without your PCP recommending it?

To increase LifeLine's profits! Seems like a slick scam to me. I'll go to an established medical facility for my testing, which my physicians' offices set up the appointments and my insurance covers. It's private, the equipment is inspected frequently for accuracy, the staff is skilled, and the premises are spotless. My health/privacy/security is not compromised in any way.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

NickNack — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:09:53 GMT

I have read several times that the testing done by Lifeline is not completely accurate. How do you know your insurance won't pay? I've had most of these tests done through the years with various different insurance companies, and they were always paid for. There probably has to be a valid reason for doing them, but your doctor would know how to code it.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

Desertdi — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:11:02 GMT

I am hesitant to go to anybody who advertises on TV

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

SeaMaiden — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:25:12 GMT

@x Hedge @BunSnoop Here is the thread I started on the subject months back 🙂

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Wellness/Life-line-screenings-or-the-like/m-p/4334449#M122478

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

x Hedge — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:30:07 GMT

Thanks @SeaMaiden!

Now anyone doing a search for Lifeline threads in the future will get yours too.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

Carolm — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 20:09:54 GMT

My doctor used to suggest that I go for screening by Lifeline every few years. I have been lucky enough to have excellent insurance throughout my life and my insurance would not cover some of the tests. I believe she suggested I have the aneurysm test and the carotid artery test. In any case my doctor thought it was worth doing and I always respected her opinion. The last time I went, I was able to have the test performed at the local immediate care center, and I still hd to pay myself -- around $80.00 I believe -- the same charge as Lifeline.

In my opinion Lifeline testing is worthwhile and with the cost of medical testing, $139 is a bargain.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

Shelbelle — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 20:23:04 GMT

Sorry, but I just dont trust them!!

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

HerRoyaLioness — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 20:23:24 GMT

@BunSnoop - I have went a couple times and everything went well.

However my sister went and they discovered she had an AAA, abdominal aortic aneurysm. She has since had surgery and is still alive and doing well! Probably a life saver in her case.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

151949 — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 20:44:04 GMT

Personally , I would prefer to go to one place and have these totally non invasive screenings done all at once for a relatively small fee over having to go to 5 different appointments to have them done in medical facilities.By the time I paid for all the copays it would no doubt cost me more than the lifeline ones. I don't see any reason to distrust the result.

I was wondering if they do an actual 12 lead EKG or if they just put you on a monitor and run a short strip?

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

BirkiLady — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 03:52:20 GMT

@151949Of course, all tests can be done in a hospital or clinic setting if that's what suits the patient. Often, a patient will have a preference for a specific specialist and/or place. With Medicard and good secondary policy, many patients (me included) have never paid (and never will pay) a co-pay (or additional expenses) for anything. I'm able to select any place and/or specialists available. You get what you pay for when it comes to insurance or anything else. It's all tax deductible; why not have the best medical care available? Don't understand anyone willing to settle for less to save money.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

Laura14 — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:04:45 GMT

As far as the insurance question, make sure you are not subject to a deductible which most of us are. I have insurance but it covered nothing when I broke a wrist because I didn't reach $6000 out of my own pocket. It did pay for the $8 in pain pills I got and never took. Very few items are covered nowadays without the deductible being paid first.

I've thought about this as I've gotten older and basically have no insurance thanks to current deductibles and I might just give it a look. Thank you for the reminder that there are other options out there for preventative healthcare at a reasonable cost.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

webbgarner1 — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:22:50 GMT

@151949 When I went, it was a 12 lead EKG.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

151949 — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:24:36 GMT

@webbgarner1 Thanks I was curious about that.

Re: Lifeline Medical Screenings

missy1 — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 18:16:37 GMT

Can Lifeline share this info with anyone?