The Cost of Diagnosis

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I finally got the courage to call, and make an appointment to get evaluated for AS only to find out that in the end it will cost about $1300. I don't have that kind of money right now. To say that I'm disappointed, and frustrated would be an understatement.

I'm just wondering... is that how much it normally costs, and does anyone know of any other way to get a diagnosis without shelling out a huge amount of money?

I don't know of a less expensive way and that the place closest to me costs around $2200 for an evaluation. Plus they don't accept insurance and figuring out the whole reimbursement deal just makes my head hurt. I'd be interested in less expensive, but not less professional options as well.

My diagnosis was about four payments of $30.
But I was on a plan so normally it would have been four payments of $100.

I was going to be tested for ADD but that cost $2000.

This... won't be helpful at all, but that's a fraction of the psychoeducational assessment I paid for.

Different shrinks might vary in commision/rate, but I suspect by and large the huge cost of tests compared to just counselling is because they have to pay to use the different standard tests: the more they do the more it ends up costing, which may or may not actually be helpful. For example, I got screened for depression, bipolar, ADD/ADHD, anxiety in addition to autism and academic/learning disorders. And maybe a few other things. While I was deemed negative on most of those, ASD's often have a lot of "comorbid" conditions with them, and I actually was kinda surprised at the end at what else my evaluation indicated.

I dont know about australia, but places in the US often charge MORE if you don't have insurance.

WITHOUT insurance
BILLED $200,000
CHARGED $200,000 <<YOU PAY

WITH INSURANCE
BILLED $200,000
CONTRACT -$100,000 (Somehow, the insurance companies just have this arranged)
OTHER - 2,000 (Sometimes they charge more than the insurance companies figure they should)
80% PAYMENT -78,400
CHARGED 19,600 <<YOU PAY (You MIGHT have expected to pay $40,000!! !! !)

Some places have SPECIAL arrangements. With my insurance, some tests that cost THOUSANDS of dollars can be FREE. So comparing with and without insurance can be difficult.

4 easy payments of 30 austalian dollars and you can get diagnosed with aspergers.
For 2,000 austialian dollars, they will diagnose you with A.D.D.

Serenity, are you in the USA?

$1,300 is a bit expensive to buy a diagnoses of aspergers.

move to a country that does it free.

Wow! We have Medicare here, which is why I got my diagnosis for cheaper. It was done at a small psychology clinic, which was the same place helping me overcome anxiety. If it was done in Sydney, for example, it would have cost more. I think $400.
This year though the Medicare benefit has changed and if I were to go for a diagnosis this year it would cost more. My therapy sessions have gone from $30 to $100.

I saw a developmental psychologist, who has a doctorate and specializes in autism/Asperger's. He charged $200 for a 1 1/2-hour evaluation. It actually didn't end up taking quite that long, and I'm sure I will still end up paying the full cost, but that's okay because I got what I needed from it.

I'm 21 and was still able to see a pediatric guy- maybe that is why it was less expensive than most. The first two doctors I checked with charged $3100 and $2600 respectively. I'm a college student, you've got to be kidding me!

I don't see why it's so much. I do have insurance, but even without, I went to a psychiatrist a total of 3 times and he said he knew I had aspergers. The cost (before insurance) was $225 for initial visit, $125 for each visit afterward. That's still alot less than $1300...?????

1300! Are you sure this whole AS deal is not a made up thing to get money to these guys?

Basically the same deal here; I visited a psychiatrist a total of three times. She asked that my wife come in on the third visit to speak with her. In addition, she gave me a litany of paperwork to be filled out. One was for me, one for my wife, one for both my wife and I and one for my parents. The first visit was about $55, with the second and third being about $47 each ($149).

Psychiatrists and, ESPECIALLY, psychologists, are KNOWN for charging a lot per hour. The price is dependent upon how they calculate time, their pricing structure, method of payment, etc.... They usually DON'T CARE about your ability to pay.(SOME have sliding scales, etc... if you are low income)

If they know what they are doing, have an easy time, and simple ideas(regarding requirements), and are fairly honest, MAYBE you can get away with say $50. If they are famous, greedy, have complex ideas, and/or are NOT honest, it could EASILY cost THOUSANDS! Just a test could cost $50 or more.(And they could probably justify 6 or more. HECK, I probably had about 6, and they didn't even have some of the specific tests they do now.) A visit could cost $30 or more(just to get an appointment). The time could be SKY HIGH! They could want you to meet with them for HOURS. Every hour raises the price.

And look at the lack of consensus! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnosis_ ... r_syndrome In fact, THEY make gillberg sound more reasonable than he is!

So how is it so hard to understand how the price varies and how it can cost so much?

BTW I should have made it clear that my pricing example was just an example. I just wanted to show how pricing can vary. A LOT of my bills have been like that.

Of course, NOBODY would pay HUNDREDS of thousands for a diagnosis. But I COULD see it going to several thousand. I could see tests costing perhaps 1000 and they may see you for weeks at hundreds of dollars an hour. If you clearly identify AS traits, and weaknesses, and are clearly intelligent and the doctor is honest and knows what he is doing, maybe he will figure you are AS by the time you get to the office, and be willing to forgo the formalities.

I can't believe that some of you had to actually pay MORE than $1300! I think that it is a ridiculous price, to be honest. It just goes back to the same vicious cycle of there not being any services (or at least very little) for adults on the spectrum. If one wanted to get help (disability, accommodations, ect...) you would need a diagnosis first, and in order to obtain any services you would have to pay money that many people on the spectrum don't have, especially considering how hard it can be to hold down full time employment.

Basically, from what I understand, this psychologist is about the only one in my area( I live in Kansas) that can diagnose adults. That's what I've heard from asking knowledgeable resources, and even they weren't sure. The first visit is the evaluation, and that's $240. Then, most likely he'll want to see me for an additional 4-6 visits for an hour each at $180 an hour. The secretary said that he doesn't always need to see you after the evaluation, it just depends. I'm not sure what it depends on, but I feel like I need to be prepared financially to spend the whole amount if I'm going to go for the evaluation in the first place.

wow.... this is the absolute truth...... you said it....

This is a very timely topic for me, as I am currently trying to find an appropriate way to get a formal diagnosis. I am without insurance right now, which (from the looks of things) may be prohibitive in this endeavor. I am still in the early stages right now... finding references on doctors and so forth. It is all very intimidating. Yet all I can think of is how I so desperately need to have this diagnosis, as this is the only way that I know I will gain any measure of support and understanding from my family and others in my life. Until now, they've always just assumed my problems were the result of character flaws. Unfortunately, they are also the only ones who would be able to help me with the cost and procedure involved in getting a diagnosis. I feel torn, because I really want to tell them all about AS and how it solves the riddle of my whole damn life... but I don't want to do so until I can actually prove that I have it, because I really don't think they'll believe me otherwise.

Where's cheap, reliable psychiatry when you need it?

Last edited by Acacia on 13 Jan 2009, 11:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.

It's a few thousand in DC area. Insurance won't cover it.