Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by dheera 2555 days ago
Interesting. I got bit by 2 blacklegged ticks in the past 3 months but I couldn't find any free tick tests, so I never had them tested. Both were within a few hours so I assumed based on CDC advice that I was still in the green zone. It sounds like one of those things that health insurance companies would be out of their minds to not cover.

Separately: Bay Area hikers beware -- change your clothes immediately after getting home, do complete body checks after hiking -- ideally, shower immediately.
2 comments
stupidboy 2555 days ago
We can't get reimbursed by health insurance because we aren't a medical facility, but rather a DNA lab. I'm sure in some regard, it's a downside. However, it does force us to compete intensely on price, value & service. And I'm happy with that because consumers win.
link
dheera 2555 days ago
When the cost of prevention is higher than the cost of treatment, you know the system is truly messed up.

IMO health insurance should be paying for everything preventative. It's in their financial interest to stop fretting about what kind of lab you are, encourage early diagnosis and reduce long-term medical costs.

link
jagannathtech 2555 days ago
'reduce long-term medical costs'

the pharma companies won't be happy with that

link
Alex3917 2555 days ago
> Both were within a few hours so I assumed based on CDC advice that I was still in the green zone.

I wouldn't trust the CDC data. Notice that there is no primary source on their webpage.

Here is a paper by someone who took an independent look into it: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278789/

link