Life Line Screening, Worth It?

Suzeecat · ‎05-05-2010

From time to time I get a solicitation in the mail about local screenings that include Carotid Artery Ultrasound, Heart Rhythm Screening, Abdominal Aortic aneurysm ultrasound, Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening and Osteoporosis assessment for "discount" pricing (in this latest case $150), not covered under my BCBS insurance.

i never thought I needed this before, but I'm not getting any younger and have had controlled high blood pressure for over 15 yrs now. Just wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone here had this screening and felt they got their $$ worth?

FrostyBabe1 · ‎05-09-2016

@Suzeecat wrote:
From time to time I get a solicitation in the mail about local screenings that include Carotid Artery Ultrasound, Heart Rhythm Screening, Abdominal Aortic aneurysm ultrasound, Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening and Osteoporosis assessment for "discount" pricing (in this latest case $150), not covered under my BCBS insurance.

i never thought I needed this before, but I'm not getting any younger and have had controlled high blood pressure for over 15 yrs now. Just wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone here had this screening and felt they got their $$ worth?

I've gotten those as well, unfortunately because they held one of their "clinics" at my church and the office gave them contact info for all members without our permission. Took me forever to get them to stop e-mailing me.

My feeling is that if my primary care physician thought those tests were necessary, she'd not only order them, she'd have her office take any needed steps to make sure my insurance would cover them.

~The more someone needs to brag about how wonderful, special, successful, wealthy or important they are, the greater the likelihood that it isn't true. ~

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

I once asked my PCP about these tests. As expected, she dissed them because she wouldn't be making any money so asking your doctor about them is kind of pointless, IMO. I chose not to do it but maybe there are some objective opinions out there.

pdxlalesley · ‎09-15-2010

@Suzeecat ,Yes it was, for me. Especially with regard to the carotid artery test.

We have excellent health coverage, but no expensive diagnostic tests I was curious about, would be ordered without the need for it. I was not wanting to have a stroke or heart attack as my way of finding out I needed a test, and that my arteries were clogged.

I was told by the staff administering the test when they were done that I needed to immediately see my doctor or get to the nearest E.R. I was handed all my test results and tearfully told my husband to drive to the closest E.R.

At the E.R. after 5 hours I saw a heart specialist who put in a call to my doctor and scheduled a next-day office visit for me. At that time by my PCP, I was prescribed a statin drug, advised to get a blood pressure monitor and pamphlets on diet guidelines.

So it was a terrifying day, but I think about what could have happened instead. For me, it was money well-spent.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@Suzeecat

IMO, no.

You pay to be tested for a myriad of illnesses that you may have no symptoms of having.

I would depend on my Dr's routine tests that may indicate a problem where more testing is warranted for something specific.

It's a money grab, designed to prey on people's health fears.

You can google "Life Line Screening reviews" to see what others think of it and their experience.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@kaydee50 wrote:
I once asked my PCP about these tests. As expected, she dissed them because she wouldn't be making any money so asking your doctor about them is kind of pointless, IMO. I chose not to do it but maybe there are some objective opinions out there.

@kaydee50

I highly doubt that your PCP told that was why she "dissed them", but my question is why would you have a PCP that you think so little of them and their opinion?????

That makes no sense whatsoever to me.....but it doesn't need to, I don't live your life.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

@Suzeecat We get this done every few years and then bring the results to the doctor, and we really just do this for peace of mind. Our doctor said that she could prescribe the same tests, but they would not be done at the same time. Even though we have insurance, I do not want to spend any more time than necessary trying to schedule these tests. This is a one and done.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

Straight from Harvard Medical School--No. And if you look at the kind of testing they do for osteoporosis, it is not a bone scan density test.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_Should_I_be_tested_at_Life_Line_...

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

We've gotten those before as well. My husband's cardiologist told him to throw it into the trash.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I would not get it done because I'm the kind of person who doesn't go looking for something which may or may not be problematic. I would rather have a routine wellness 'checkup' and be evaluated from that. I don't believe in looking for trouble. I believe in prevention and, if needed, treating symptoms when and if they come along.