Stroke / Heart Disease Screenings - High Cholesterol Message Board

babydog · 06-06-2005, 04:55 PM

I keep getting an advertisement in the mail for a stroke / vascular disease screening. I am not mentioning the name because I am not sure if I am permitted to.

They offer 4 screening tests as a package:
one for Stroke / carotid artery to detect plaque buildup
one for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
one for peripheral arterial disease
one for osteoporosis

The screenings are ultasounds. They offer this screening package for $139. Evidently the company is mobile. The screenings take place at a different facility in my area with every notice I receive.

Has anyone ever heard of this company or taken advantage of this screening package? Has anyone received this promotional material in the mail?

While I can't imagine why anyone would not take advantage of something like this, I don't understant why something like this would be not routine screening for person's say over age 50 or considered to be at risk. If arterial plaque can be detected on an ultrasound, why isn't everybody getting it????, especially if it is so reasonable.????

Lenin · 06-06-2005, 06:34 PM

babydog,

It sounds like a scheme to me. The price is too cheap for a decent test for plaque buildup let alone the minimum ultrasound to determine the condition of the abdominal aorta and a bone scan of any type.
Beware of medical care that comes to YOU...something fishy going on.

babydog · 06-06-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

babydog,

It sounds like a scheme to me. The price is too cheap for a decent test for plaque buildup let alone the minimum ultrasound to determine the condition of the abdominal aorta and a bone scan of any type.
Beware of medical care that comes to YOU...something fishy going on.

What a shame. That's what my husband told me. Guess I just needed to hear it from somebody I trust .

ARIZONA73 · 06-06-2005, 08:25 PM

My father just had a bone scan done today. He first went in at 10:30, and was then told to come back at 12:30. I think they inject some kind of a dye first, and then later on they do the scan. He has osteoporosis, and is currently suffering from a fracture in his back. The scan alone took one hour, and I'll bet this test alone will cost considerably more than $139.

HubbleRules · 06-06-2005, 09:30 PM

BabyDog,

You know the old saying 'if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is'...

I would search for any complaints about this company on the internet. Their prices sound unrealistically low to me - unless they are outsourcing the diagnosis of the results to India.

They may be legit, but unless they are being subsidized by the government, or unless they are outsourcing the diagnosis, I would be skeptical.

Is the $139 your out-of-pocket cost AFTER they collect from your insurance company??? Or is it the total cost?

Regards,

HubbleRules