How much does functional medicine Cost?

The most accurate answer is also the least satisfying : it is complicated and it varies for every single case, and depends on what type of care is most appropriate.

Usually the more complicated the case, the longer and more expensive the process will be. Nevertheless, I believe in price transparency so I will try to explain it to the best of my ability.

The costs of functional medicine fall into a few categories:

  • Laboratory testing: This includes the more “basic” lab tests to screen for major issues, and the more specific, specialty testing to get in-depth information about a specific system so we can make a personalized care plan, as well as follow-up testing to make sure we are getting results.

  • Doctor’s time: Almost all of these services are billed by the hour (or as close as we can get while using the best, legal billing codes for our US patients). This includes the time I spend gathering and processing the information about the case, designing a treatment plan and keeping a complete record of the case, as well as the “face-to-face” time with each patient educating them, working out a treatment plan and following up periodically. I always try to be as efficient as possible to maximize the results and quality of care, while minimizing the costs as much as possible. See more about my values here.

  • Nutraceutical supplements: Supplements can be powerful tools to improve health and are a part of pretty much every treatment plan. Our goal is to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck and using the most effective supplements for your specific case. I don’t want my patients on a huge bag of supplements every month. I want to use the ones that are clinically-effective, supported by rigorous scientific evidence, and cost-effective for each person. It is critical to use high-quality supplements from reputable companies with good quality control practices, or they might have the wrong dosages, be dangerously contaminated with toxins, and might not even contain what is on the label. We can recommend the most appropriate products that you can trust and get them to you at a discounted rate.

  • Lifestyle changes: These might include costs associated with changing diet, removing toxic materials from the home or work environments, starting new kinds of exercise activities, etc.

The costs of all of these services will vary based on case and location, but there are some common parts that will allow us to give a general ballpark. Things are further complicated because we have patients in several different countries and operate in different currencies. See the breakdown of costs for your country below.

Is the cost worth the value?

The short answer is: Yes.

The longer answer is: Yes, so long as you are a good candidate and you actually follow through and commit to making lifestyle changes, which can be challenging. It is important that you understand what the options are, the process and the pros and cons. At the end of the day, we need to answer one question: is the amount of benefit you will get from working with me worth the time, effort, and money. I do not want to waste your time and money, so once you know your options, I always start with a free discovery session where we can talk about your case and how to proceed. If it is not likely to be worth it for you, then I might not be your best option and I will try to help you find the right person to work with.

  • The average total cost of a course of functional medicine that lasts 2-6 months in the USA is between $3,000-$10,000. Again, remember that these are generalizations and will vary depending on several factors including the complexity of the case, the amount of testing needed, and the specific interventions used.

    The medical system in the USA is complicated and uses a complex list of “billing codes” to describe different services and how to charge for them. The short version is that it equals out to about $400/hour for services directly requiring my time. I know that seems high, but if you think about going to urgent care, you are likely to have 15-minutes or less with the doctor and walk out with a bill of $200-$300. Which means that they are effectively charging $800-$1,200/ hour, which puts my fees in context. The difference is that insurance does not cover functional medicine. For reference, the average cost of functional medicine in the USA is between $350-$800/hour.

    The cost will also vary based on the level of care:

    Level 1 Example:

    For level 1 care, we usually run a set of basic labs (around $250) to look for any deficiencies in nutrients and get a general idea of which systems are effected. Then I would recommend several supplement options to address those deficiencies or support those system. After that, the cost is just the cost of the supplements (which can vary widely depending on which ones and how many, with each one usually between $15-$60 a month).

    A quick note about supplements in the USA: the FDA does not really regulate supplements, so it very common for companies to sell supplements that have the wrong dosage, or don’t even have the main ingredients in them, and in severe cases, they may be contaminated with dangerous chemicals. These issues are common even among supplements sold at major stores and pharmacies. It is critical to use high quality supplements from trusted companies that use the same manufacturing and quality control standards that prescription drug companies use to make sure you are getting an effective, safe product.

    I work with an online dispensary where I can make sure you are getting a quality product (and give you a hefty discount) that ships directly to your door.

    Level 2 Example:

    If a case is fairly simple, and only requires an hour of my time to evaluate and a standardized protocol might be effective, then level 2 care could be appropriate. In this case, we would be looking at a basic labs (around $250), and a standardized protocol ($100-$200), about 3 hours of my time including follow-ups ($1,200), 1-2 functional lab tests ($200-$600), along with the cost of supplements ($50-$300/month). For a total cost of around $1,800-$2,500.

    Level 3 Example:

    For a moderately complicated case that requires 5 total hours of my time (1 hour initial evaluation and 4-8 30-60 minute follow-up sessions over the next few months), basic lab tests and one functional test, it could cost around $2,000 for my time, $800-1,200 for lab testing, and $200-600 for supplements, for a total near $3,000-$4,000.

    If a case is more complex and takes 20 hours of my time over 6 months, basic labs and several functional tests, then the cost could come closer to $10,000 total.

    Please remember that I always try to minimize my billable time while maximizing results. My goal is to help get people better, not to charge unnecessarily.

    Please also note that these examples are provided only as generalizations and are not a guarantee of costs associated with your care. Every case will vary widely depending on the specifics of the case.

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