Key Takeaways
- Concierge membership fees typically cover the physician’s time for coordinating, ordering, and interpreting tests, but not the cost of the tests themselves.
- Some basic in-office tests may be included, while advanced lab work and imaging (X-rays, MRIs) are usually billed to insurance or paid directly to the facility.
- The primary benefit is the concierge doctor’s deep involvement, ensuring faster results, thorough analysis, and a proactive health plan based on the findings.
- Helical Health offers a transparent, coordinated approach to diagnostics for patients in Keller, Southlake, and surrounding North Texas communities.
The Role of Diagnostics in Proactive, Personalized Healthcare
In modern healthcare, diagnostic tools like lab tests and imaging are more than just a way to confirm a diagnosis when you’re already feeling unwell. They are the foundation of a proactive, preventive health strategy. This philosophy is at the heart of concierge medicine, where the goal is not just to treat sickness but to build and maintain lifelong wellness. Timely, accurate data from blood work, genetic screenings, X-rays, and MRIs allows us to create a comprehensive baseline of your health, identify potential risks long before they become problems, and track your progress with precision.
This approach transforms healthcare from a reactive cycle of symptoms and treatments into a forward-looking partnership. Instead of waiting for an issue to arise, we use these diagnostic insights to inform personalized wellness plans. It’s about understanding the complete picture of your health, from your cholesterol levels to your bone density, and using that information to guide lifestyle, nutrition, and treatment decisions. For us, diagnostics are a cornerstone of proactive primary care, providing the clarity needed to keep you feeling your best. It’s this deep, data-driven understanding that elevates the standard of care and empowers you to take control of your health journey.
Are Lab Tests and Imaging Included in a Concierge Membership?
This is one of the most common and important questions we hear from those considering a switch to a more personalized healthcare model. The answer requires understanding the fundamental value of concierge care: you are investing in your doctor’s time, expertise, and unwavering advocacy.
In short, the concierge membership fee typically covers the extensive physician services surrounding the diagnostic process, but not the external cost of the lab work or imaging study itself. Think of your concierge doctor as your dedicated health quarterback. Your membership covers the quarterback’s expert play-calling, in-depth analysis of the game film, and personalized coaching—the services that lead to a win. The cost of the stadium ticket (the test from LabCorp or the MRI from a radiology center) is a separate expense, often covered by your insurance.
This model ensures your doctor is focused entirely on providing the highest level of care coordination and interpretation, rather than on the volume of tests ordered.
What’s Often Covered by Your Membership Fee
The true value of concierge lab testing lies in the comprehensive management provided by your physician. Your membership fee with Helical Health covers the crucial, time-intensive services that are often rushed in a traditional setting. These include:
- Strategic Test Selection: Dr. Mehta spends time with you to determine precisely which tests are necessary, avoiding unnecessary procedures and costs.
- Seamless Coordination: We handle all the logistics, from placing the order to coordinating with labs and imaging centers in the Keller and Southlake area.
- Direct Follow-Up: We proactively track down your results, so you aren’t left waiting and worrying.
- In-Depth Interpretation: Dr. Mehta personally reviews every detail of your results, cross-referencing them with your medical history and wellness goals.
- Unhurried Consultation: You get a dedicated, unhurried appointment to discuss what your results mean in plain language, how they fit into your overall health picture, and what the next steps are.
What’s Typically Billed Separately
The direct costs for performing the tests are handled outside of the membership fee. This allows you to use your health insurance for services that it is designed to cover and provides access to a wide network of specialized facilities. These separate costs include:
- Third-Party Blood Work: Comprehensive panels and specialized tests sent to external labs like Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.
- Anatomical Pathology: Services like biopsies that require analysis by a pathologist.
- Advanced Imaging Studies: Referrals for X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, and mammograms are performed at dedicated imaging centers or hospitals.
We help you navigate this process, ensuring you know what to expect. This separation of services provides clarity and allows both your membership and your insurance to be used to their fullest potential.
The Helical Health Difference: Coordinated Diagnostics & Expert Interpretation
Navigating the world of medical tests can be fragmented and stressful. You might get a lab order from one office, drive to a separate facility for a blood draw, and then wait days for a brief, jargon-filled report to appear in an online portal. At Helical Health, we eliminate that confusion and anxiety. A core benefit of Helical Health’s concierge care membership is the seamless, physician-led coordination of all your diagnostic needs.
Dr. Mehta acts as your single point of contact and dedicated advocate. For our patients across Keller, Southlake, Westlake, Roanoke, and the greater North Fort Worth area, this means no more chasing down referrals or trying to interpret complex results on your own. When a test is needed, we manage the entire process. We schedule the appointment for you at a trusted local facility and ensure your results are sent directly to us for immediate review.
But the real difference lies in the interpretation. Dr. Mehta doesn’t just glance at the numbers to see if they are within a standard range. He analyzes them within the unique context of your health history, lifestyle, and goals. He connects the dots between a subtle change in your blood work and other factors, providing insights that a standard review might miss. He then personally calls you or schedules a visit to discuss the findings, ensuring you understand every detail and feel confident about your health plan. This is what true concierge diagnostic services look like—expert, attentive, and completely centered around you. To get started with us, you can even access our patient forms online for convenience.
Navigating Costs and Insurance with Transparency
Exceptional healthcare relies on trust, and that extends to absolute financial clarity. Concierge medicine is often misunderstood as operating entirely outside the insurance system. At Helical Health, the model works as a hybrid to maximize value. The membership fee covers direct, personalized physician access and clinical services, while health insurance remains a vital tool for covering external medical costs.
Leveraging a health plan for third-party services is a standard part of our care coordination. When Dr. Mehta orders an MRI, diagnostic imaging, or a comprehensive blood panel, the request goes to a facility in-network with the patient’s provider whenever possible. The lab or imaging center then bills the insurance company directly. This ensures the benefits of personalized coordination are felt without sacrificing existing coverage.
Preventing surprises is our commitment. Understanding the process from start to finish matters, so our team handles questions about potential test costs or finding an in-network facility. Open communication sits at the center of how we operate and reflects the patient-centered approach that drives our practice. We aim to build a relationship where every patient feels safe, supported, and understood.
Get Clarity on Your Health with Care That Puts You First
Navigating the healthcare system alone is unnecessary. We are here to make managing well-being straightforward and stress-free. If a proactive partner who prioritizes both physical health and peace of mind sounds right, let’s take care of this together. Request a consultation to discuss how we can support your long-term wellness.
FAQs
Do I still need health insurance for labs in a concierge model?
Yes, it is highly recommended. While your membership covers Dr. Mehta’s personalized services, your insurance is typically used for external costs like advanced lab work, specialist visits, and imaging studies at facilities like hospitals or radiology centers.
How quickly will I get my lab or imaging results?
Because we coordinate directly with labs and imaging centers, we often receive results faster. More importantly, Dr. Mehta will contact you personally to review and explain your results promptly, so you’re not left waiting and worrying.
Can my concierge doctor order an MRI or CT scan?
Absolutely. Dr. Mehta can order any medically necessary imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs. We will handle the referral and coordinate with the imaging center to ensure a seamless experience for you.