Hello, I have BCBS PPO. I want to get a blood panel done as a self check up as I haven't had one in a few years. My card says "$0 copay for In-Network Wellness." Does this mean that the panel would be free? Or how do I know how much the panel would cost? TIA

You'll need to go online or otherwise access your plan details in more detail. Blood panels are most often considered lab work that is differentiated from wellness or check-ups. My guess is that there is a non-zero copay to have it done, but it depends on the plan.

No idea. But would suspect it's a 0 copay for a wellness appointment with a doctor. Usually you get an annual check up years with no copay. Don't think it means on whatever wellness labs you deem indicated. I'm not an insurance expect though, I just know insurance sucks.

Wellness usually just refers to stuff like annual Pap smear, mammogram, prostate exam type stuff. In my experience, it hasn't included bloodwork in that.

I have BCBS PPO as well although I think many minor things depend on your specific company's contract with BCBS.

As an example of insurance sucking...if I go in for a checkup/physical and I don't have any specific complaints, the office visit is coded as preventative and it, along with most bloodwork the doctor orders, is paid 100% with 0 copay. Every once in a while, my doctor warns me that he's ordering a specific test that might not be covered by insurance. Sometimes he's right, sometimes he's wrong...I imagine it's hard to keep up.

However, if I go in for checkup/physical and mention that my shoulder has been hurting for a little while and that I might want to get it checked out further, the office visit is coded differently and is not covered 100%. This I somewhat understand.

But all the labs that my doctor orders are also no longer covered at 100% even though my cholesterol numbers don't have much to do with a sore shoulder. That didn't seem right to me and was a surprise bill.