> Having a high income I had to pay full price but it only cost me €89 so that seems fair. The GP was able to draw the blood and then sent it to a hospital laboratory.
If that was more than a handful of tests (usually separate drawings), then it was probably still subsidized. I think the out of pocket prices are in the same range though, at a private lab clinic, here in Southern Ontario.
The reason insurers end up paying $1,000 for this service in the most expensive places is mainly that insurance is ubiquitous in some places. If nobody asks the price, how can it stay down?
I believe I had three drawings. It was a basic test for not much more than iron levels and such. The €89 is what the hospital will receive in total for the research. Because the amount is lower than the yearly healthcare deductible (€385 up to €885), you will have to pay for it yourself.
There is an online calculator with the maximum amount a hospital may charge for its services:
https://www.diagnostiekvooru.nl/tarieven (use the checkboxes for whatever you want tested, apologies for it being Dutch).
This is the maximum amount the hospital may charge by law, the insurance company can lower this by up to 10% by negotiating the rates.
I don't think there's any equivalent price control on private purchase of tests here, the prices are in the same range, maybe a bit less depending on where you go.
If that was more than a handful of tests (usually separate drawings), then it was probably still subsidized. I think the out of pocket prices are in the same range though, at a private lab clinic, here in Southern Ontario.
The reason insurers end up paying $1,000 for this service in the most expensive places is mainly that insurance is ubiquitous in some places. If nobody asks the price, how can it stay down?