How can I get a diagnosis in the US without insurance?

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I live in the United States (the San Francisco Bay Area to be precise), and I do not currently have medical insurance, and I expect it will be a while until I do have it. Are there any ways I can find out from a professional whether I actually have Asperger's for free or at a reasonable price? I have a part-time job so I can pay as long as the price isn't too high. I'm thinking that I'll wait until I have insurance and full-time employment before considering regular therapy sessions or treatment - right now, I just want to find out for sure whether I have it.

You might be able to get a free diagnosis if you are a participant in a research study.

During research studies sometimes, people are given diagnostic tests for such things as autism.

The thing I'm not sure about:

If students administer the test, and a licensed psychologist/psychiatrist signs off on it, is it a valid, official diagnosis?

Try the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. I know they can help if you are unemployed. They may be able to help if you are underemployed as well. It's definitely worth a try. If they can help you, your dx might be free.

I got mine by approaching a psychology professor at a local college. She invited me to participate in a research study, and I agreed as long as my identity was not included in the study. Later, three more profs at the same school made a more in-depth study.

Try the psych department at Berkeley.

How much would it cost to go to a psychologist and find out if I have it?

Cost varies so much we can't really tell you. Different offices will have different rates and some might have discounts for people who are poor. And the cost of the diagnosis itself can vary greatly. You have to call around in your area and ask them what they charge.

I understand. Maybe one of your profs can help you find out the rates in your area. They may know people and if they are as nice as some of the profs I had in college, perhaps they might make some calls on your behalf.

Testing will probably be more than $1000 without insurance, if they'll even take you.

I know that sucks. I waited three years to save up the money to buy health insurance from Healthcare.gov. After my insurance, it was like $550. That includes the background interview, the testing, and the follow-up.

Search the Internet for psychologists and psychiatrists in your community who admit to assessing and diagnosing autism. Then, prioritize your list based on location. After that, start calling your list and flat-out ask: 1) if the professional has experience with autistic adult diagnoses; 2) what the price of an autism assessment would be for you; 3) if there is a cash-payment discount (almost all professionals have cash discounts); and 4) what diagnostic tests they use to autistic assessments (ask specifically if each professional uses the ADOS-2 tests; they are among the best). After all that work, you should have a short list to consider. This makes it all much more manageable.

In my search last year, I chose to attend my university's ASD clinic despite the $1,000 price, but I also considered private-practice psychologists and psychiatrists because a few of them had prices around $250-350. Having lived in San Jose, Calif., in the 1980s, I know how prices differ. But, if a Salt Lake area professional bills $250-350, a Bay Area professional is probably about double the price. You can always schedule an assessment as far in advance as you believe you need to save the fee money, I did this with my own fee money.

In any case, good luck and stay in touch with us if you have questions.

Try a local college or university. I have health insurance but opted to go to a local university instead and pay out of pocket. (I felt like I would get more time and attention working with a university than I would at a private clinic.) I was not part of any research study and they give official diagnoses. Apparently it's not uncommon for universities to have clinics run by psych grad students working under the supervision of their advisors. The official diagnosis is given by the supervisor who is a licensed psychologist. Where I went, they had a sliding fee scale based on your income, but the maximum charge was under $1000.

I've read on here that insurance won't pay for it anyway (which is odd, considering mental health services are in my plan's coverage description).

So if insurance not paying is in fact true, why would having insurance even matter?

Is there a reason why you can't just do an online RAADS-R and/or the Aspie quiz?

So I am about to defend a Master's in Sociology with a concentration in adults on the autism spectrum. I'm already enrolled in a PhD program in the same subject. I have been considering a special autism studies certificate at another university, but all autism certificates involve information about autistic people UP TO 21 YEARS OF AGE. I don't know about you guys, but I didn't stop living when I turned 21.

Most people who study autism are psychologists. When I have tried to have professional conversations with these people about adults on the spectrum, they don't appear to know what I'm talking about. The exception would be a couple of people I know PERSONALLY, who have adult autistic relatives. So think carefully before you put TOO much energy in a professional. You may happen to be in an area where people are educated and you can get a lot out of a psychologist or a psychiatrist. But if you can't really afford it right now, I would advise you to take some self-assessments, read what other autistic adults have posted in places like WrongPlanet, and do some thinking about what makes sense for you.

I could easily be wrong. It could be that when I am trying to talk to psychologists who study autism, they find my presence as a sociologist in this field threatening and they do not want to talk to me. But I get the distinct impression of confusion from them, which bothers me. If someone has spent 20 years or more studying a topic, I feel like they should know about and be confident discussing it with others. 20 years ago I was watching Star Trek and thinking about what kind of blizzard I would get at Dairy Queen. I didn't have any academic interests at all. So I shouldn't know more than these people. Do you see where I'm going here?

I have my own RAADS-R and Aspie quiz results saved if you would like someone neurotypical to compare yours to. You certainly don't have to say what yours were. But if you want to take these tests I can post my scores for you.

I'm thinking the OP needs an "official" diagnosis in order to obtain accommodations, or to apply for something like SSI.