Allergy Doctors Accepting Medical Insurance

At Allergy & Asthma Center in Atlanta, we understand that your insurance coverage can impact your decision to get allergy tests. Insurance coverage for these tests can depend on various factors such as the specifics of your individual plan, the reason for the test, and the type of test administered by our specialists.

Our team offers different types of allergy tests, such as skin tests and blood tests. Insurance coverage for these tests can vary. For instance, skin prick tests are typically covered more often than blood tests.

Here’s a general guide to coverage types:

● Medicare Part B: Allergy tests performed by healthcare providers like Dr. Jon Stahlman are covered.

● Medicaid: Coverage varies by state but generally includes allergy tests for children under 21.

● Private Health Insurance: Coverage for allergy tests varies significantly.

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of allergy tests if they are medically necessary, i.e., you’re experiencing allergy symptoms. However, if the test is performed for routine screening, it may not be covered.

Insurance typically covers diagnostic allergy tests. However, treatment costs, such as allergy shots or medications, may come under a separate benefit category.

Several factors can affect whether your insurance covers allergy tests such as the number of tests, the reason for testing, and the healthcare provider’s credentials.

To determine if your insurance covers allergy tests, contact your insurance provider directly or check your plan’s online portal. You should provide the insurance provider with the type of allergy test being ordered, the reason for testing, and the name and credentials of Dr. Jon Stahlman.

Even if your insurance covers the allergy test, you may still have out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance.

If your insurance does not cover allergy tests, you may consider other payment options such as a Health Savings Account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), payment plans offered by Allergy & Asthma Center, Atlanta, or paying via cash or credit card.

At the Allergy & Asthma Center, led by Dr. Jon Stahlman, we firmly believe that allergy tests, despite their initial cost, are a valuable investment. These tests provide crucial insights into the underlying causes of allergic reactions, helping to identify specific substances that may be triggering anything from mild discomfort to serious, potentially life-threatening reactions. By identifying these allergens, our patients can make informed decisions to avoid triggers, manage symptoms effectively, and potentially prevent a serious medical incident.

Benefits of Allergy Tests:

● Allergy tests can confirm or rule out allergies, addressing chronic symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and fatigue. Proper
diagnosis significantly enhances the quality of life.

● Pinpointing specific allergens helps create targeted avoidance strategies and guides personalized treatment plans, including medication and immunotherapy.

● After testing, an allergist can recommend treatments that are more effective and cost-efficient. Avoiding known allergens can also prevent severe reactions and lower healthcare costs.

● Understanding what triggers allergic symptoms provides a sense of control, reduces stress, and alleviates anxiety.

We provide comprehensive allergy testing to identify specific allergens triggering reactions. We offer both skin and blood tests, with costs varying based on the test type, the number of allergens tested, and additional factors like lab fees. While most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover allergy testing if medically necessary, coverage specifics and reimbursement rates may differ. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to confirm details regarding coverage, including potential out-of-pocket expenses such as co-payments or deductibles.

Additional costs may include interpretation fees, follow-up consultations, and prescriptions, which may be bundled with the testing charges, complicating billing. To avoid surprises, we advise patients to consult with our team and their insurance provider for a clear estimate of the costs before proceeding with the test.

Allergy tests cover a wide range of potential allergens, including environmental allergens, food allergens, insect venom, drug allergies, and contact allergens.

During an allergy test, we test for numerous environmental allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, and various types of pollen. Common food allergies are also tested, including reactions to peanuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, and wheat. We also assess reactions to insect venom, particularly from bees or wasps, and conduct tests for drug allergies, such as penicillin or aspirin. Lastly, we test for contact allergens, which are substances that cause an allergic reaction when they come into direct contact with the skin, like latex or certain metals.

A variety of methods to conduct allergy tests can be utilized:

● Skin prick test: A small drop of allergen extract is placed on the skin and a needle or lancet is used to prick the surface, allowing the extract to enter the skin. A positive reaction causes redness, swelling, and itching at the site.

● Intradermal skin test: A small amount of allergen extract is injected just below the skin. A positive reaction causes swelling and redness.

● Blood test (IgE antibody test): Measures the level of specific IgE antibodies in the blood, which are produced when the body encounters an allergen. A high IgE level for a particular allergen indicates an allergic response.

● Patch test: A patch containing the allergen is applied to the skin for a period of time. A positive reaction results in redness, itching, or blisters at the site.

As healthcare providers, Dr. Stahlman and his team interpret the results of allergy tests. A positive result indicates that the body reacts to the allergen, triggering allergic symptoms. Conversely, a negative result suggests that the allergen does not cause an allergic reaction. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Lawrenceville GA, Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Scottdale GA, Tucker GA, Rock Chapel Rd GA, Klondike Rd GA, Suwanee GA, Moon Place Rd GA and Dacula GA.