Medicare and Mayo Clinic: What does Medicare cover?

My medicare is covering mine, with no copay. I used Inviate - if you have to pay, it's $250 but Mayo should be doing it for you.

@lilli64 , I did have genetic testing done but it was before I went on Medicare. I had Blue Cross thru an employer. I met with genetic counselor, the drew blood and then verified insurance would cover before doing any testing. This was in 2019, at that time Mayo used another company to do actual tests.

Thank you for replying, I appreciate the info, 🤞🏻hope that my Ins will help, if they want to run one.

I am on Medicare, and was ordered a genetic test by the Mayo, but Medicare did not want to cover it. I was even direct billed for a consultation I had with the genetic department of the Mayo in Rochester, because Medicare did not pay for this either.

Thankyou for your reply on how Mayo and Medicare handled your genetic issue's. I've been curious if Mayo would still do the testing if they fill it is necessary for diagnosis no matter if covered by ins or not, I've heard that Medicare won't cover unless medically necessary.

I am intersex, and Mayo docs thought that genetic testing would provide more details about my condition. Medicare made it very clear that they would not pay, if the testing was not required for any actual health reasons. And that it was not, because I lived with my condition all my life, and did not get medical treatment for it. My testing would be about $8000.00 out of pocket, and i can't afford this to just find out why I am the way I am.

@lindes The business between Medicare and Mayo and some of the other labs and clinics is about the weakest part of USA medicine. If you really want to yell and scream, try to find a genetic clinic that will do a whole genome sequencing after Medicare says it will be covered. It's no wonder suicide is so common among genetics patients. @oldkarl

Mayo has it's own genetic clinic, and I was there, and had to pay for the consultation out of my own pocket, because Medicare refused to pay even for that one.
If I (or the docs) can't show a good reason for my health needs to have this testing done, they just don't pay for it.
I know that I have quite a few genetic mutations, but none is rely negative for my health. As long as I was still working, i could do some of these tests in my own lab, but i am retired now, and have no facilities available to me (and not enough specific knowledge either)..
Medicare does not really care that you learn that you have genetic problems, and to find out that you are different.

Linde

I just had my gene test, ordered by Oklahoma Heart Hospital, and Medicare approve it.

What was the reason the docs used to get Medicare to agree?