Functional medicine cost in 2026: visits, labs and packages explained
Functional medicine cost is the sum of four pieces: the initial consultation, follow-up visits, lab testing, and treatment, which many clinics bundle into a package or monthly membership. Because many practices do not bill insurance directly, most of that total is self-pay, so your real number depends on which pieces are included and which arrive later as add-ons. At BioCure Health, the physician video consultation is $199 and can be credited back with a membership, and specialty lab tests carry published prices.
The headline price on a clinic's website rarely tells you the whole story. The rest of this guide breaks the bill into its parts so you can compare any two offers line by line.
Why functional medicine pricing varies so widely
Two clinics can both call themselves functional or longevity medicine and charge in completely different ways. That is not always a sign that one is overpriced. Usually they are selling different bundles. These are the main drivers:
| Cost driver | Why it changes the price | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Who you see | A physician, a nurse practitioner and a health coach are priced differently | Who leads your plan and who handles follow-ups |
| Visit length and format | Long in-person intake visits cost more than shorter video visits | How long the first visit is and whether video is an option |
| Lab depth | A basic panel and a stack of specialty tests are very different bills | Which tests are included and which are optional |
| Treatment included or not | Some programs fold in medications or peptides; others bill them separately | Whether the quoted price covers anything you take home |
| Pricing model | A la carte, fixed-term package, or ongoing membership | Minimum commitment and what renews automatically |
The practical takeaway: never compare two clinics on one number. Compare them on the same four pieces.
Initial consult vs follow-up visit fees
The initial consultation is usually the largest single visit fee. It is where a clinician reviews your history, symptoms, goals and current medications, and decides which labs make sense. Follow-up visits are typically shorter and focused on results and adjustments.
Three details change what you actually pay:
- Whether the consult fee is credited. Some clinics apply the first visit fee toward a package or membership if you continue. Others keep it separate.
- Whether the results review is its own visit. A clinic may charge once for the intake and again for the appointment where your lab results are explained.
- Whether follow-ups are included. In a membership, follow-ups are often part of the monthly price. In a la carte models, each one is billed.
Ask for the fee for each of these visits in writing before you book. A low intake fee followed by separately billed result reviews can cost more over a year than a higher, all-inclusive structure.
Lab panels: what is usually bundled and what costs extra
Labs are where surprise costs most often appear. Functional and longevity practices tend to test more broadly than a standard annual physical, and the difference between a foundational panel and a full specialty workup is significant.
A comprehensive blood panel (hormones, thyroid, lipids, metabolic and organ markers) is the piece most often bundled into a program. Specialty tests are usually priced individually. For reference, here is how BioCure lists its own testing on the diagnostics page:
| Test | What it looks at | BioCure price |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Male or Female panel | Hormones, thyroid, lipids, metabolic and organ markers (90+ biomarkers) | Set based on your protocol at consultation |
| Micronutrient | Vitamin and mineral status | $585 |
| Food sensitivity | Reactions to specific foods | $600 |
| Gut health | Digestive and microbiome markers | $600 |
| TrueAge epigenetic | Biological age estimate | $625 |
| Genetic testing | Inherited variants | $530 |
| Adrenal/stress | Stress hormone patterns | $329 |
Before you agree to any panel, ask these lab questions:
- Is the blood draw fee included, or is there a separate charge for an at-home phlebotomist or lab visit?
- Is retesting at three or six months included, or billed again?
- Who interprets the results, and is that interpretation a separate visit fee?
Be candid with yourself about value, too. More tests do not automatically mean better care. The evidence behind some specialty tests, food sensitivity panels in particular, is still debated, so ask your clinician how each result would actually change your plan. If the answer is "it wouldn't," you may not need it yet.
Packages and memberships: fine print to read before signing
Most functional medicine practices use one of three pricing models. None is automatically better; each fits a different kind of patient.
| Pricing model | How pricing works | Best fit | Fine print to read |
|---|---|---|---|
| A la carte | You pay per visit, per test and per prescription | People who want a one-time assessment | Total cost if you keep going for a year |
| Fixed-term package | One price for a set number of months, visits and labs | People who want a defined program with an end date | Refund terms, what happens if you stop early, what is excluded |
| Ongoing membership | A recurring fee covering follow-ups and support | People who want continuous monitoring and adjustment | Minimum commitment, auto-renewal, whether medications and labs are inside or outside the fee |
The fine print that matters most:
- Exclusions. Medications, supplements, shipping, specialty labs and retesting are the usual items left out of a headline price.
- Minimum term. Some memberships require several months up front or charge a fee to cancel early.
- Auto-renewal. Know the date it renews and how much notice you need to give.
- Medication pricing. If treatment is billed separately, ask whether the cost changes as your dose changes.
We cover these line items in more detail in our guide to the hidden costs of telehealth hormone therapy. The same traps apply to functional medicine packages.
Insurance, HSA/FSA and self-pay options
Many functional and longevity practices do not bill insurance directly, so you pay up front. Depending on your plan, you may be able to submit an itemized invoice for out-of-network reimbursement, but coverage varies widely and is never guaranteed.
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts are the more reliable route for many patients. Medical consultations and lab tests are commonly eligible, while supplements and some wellness services may not be. Eligibility depends on the specific item and your plan, so confirm with your plan administrator before you pay. Our article on using HSA or FSA funds for hormone therapy and lab tests walks through what to ask.
BioCure does not accept health insurance directly. Many BioCure patients pay with HSA or FSA funds, and the team provides invoices and documentation for reimbursement.
How BioCure's physician-led telehealth pricing is structured
BioCure Health is a physician-led telehealth longevity clinic with a physical clinic in the Fort Lauderdale area, licensed to treat patients in 47 states. Availability in your state is confirmed at intake, and any appointment can be done in person or by video.
Here is how the process and its costs line up:
| Step | What happens | Pricing detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Online intake | About 5 minutes of health history and goals | Starts the process |
| 2. Physician video consultation | Review of history, symptoms and goals | $199, credited back with a membership |
| 3. Diagnostics | At-home kit with an in-home phlebotomist, or in-lab testing; results in 7 to 14 days | Specialty tests at published prices; comprehensive panel set for your protocol |
| 4. Custom protocol | 1:1 review of your results with your clinician | Membership pricing depends on your protocol and is set at your consultation |
| 5. Treatment and follow-up | Medications ship to your door, typically 5 to 10 business days after consult and testing | Ongoing follow-up and support are included |
Protocols span hormone optimization, medical weight loss with semaglutide or tirzepatide, peptide therapy, and specialty diagnostics. Every lab result is interpreted with a specialist, so you are not left to decode a report on your own.
Where BioCure fits best: people who want physician-led care, broad lab work and ongoing follow-up without visiting an office every month. If you only want a single one-time panel with no treatment, an a la carte lab service may suit you better. For a concrete example of how a BioCure protocol is priced, see what BioCure hormone therapy costs.
Questions to ask before you commit to a package
Use this checklist on any clinic, including us:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the first consult fee credited toward a package or membership? | It changes your true starting cost |
| Which labs are included, and which are optional add-ons? | Specialty tests are the biggest source of surprise bills |
| Are blood draw, retesting and result reviews included? | These small fees add up over a year |
| Are medications, supplements and shipping inside the price? | Many headline prices cover care, not treatment |
| Who leads my care, and who handles follow-ups? | Tells you whether you are paying for physician oversight |
| What is the minimum commitment and cancellation policy? | Protects you if your needs change |
| Will I get itemized invoices for HSA, FSA or reimbursement? | Determines what you can recover |
A clinic confident in its pricing will answer every one of these clearly and in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is functional medicine covered by insurance?
Often not directly. Many functional and longevity practices, BioCure included, do not bill insurance, so you pay up front. Some patients submit itemized invoices for out-of-network reimbursement, but coverage depends entirely on your plan.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for functional medicine?
In many cases, yes, for qualified medical expenses such as consultations and lab tests. Supplements and some wellness services may not qualify, so confirm with your plan administrator first. BioCure provides invoices and documentation to support reimbursement.
Why are functional medicine lab tests so expensive?
Functional and longevity practices often test far more markers than a routine physical, and specialty tests such as micronutrient, gut health or epigenetic panels are priced individually. Ask which tests are essential for your goals and how each result would change your plan before ordering everything.
Is a functional medicine membership worth it?
It depends on how you plan to use it. A membership tends to make sense if you want ongoing monitoring, follow-ups and protocol adjustments over many months. If you only want a one-time assessment, paying a la carte is usually simpler.
How much is a BioCure consultation?
The physician video consultation at BioCure Health is $199. That fee can be credited back if you start a membership, and membership pricing depends on your protocol.
The bottom line
Functional medicine is not one price; it is a consult, labs, treatment and follow-up stacked together. Once you split any offer into those pieces, comparing clinics becomes simple, and surprise add-ons lose their power. Longevity is not accidental, it is intentional, and so is the way you spend on it.
Let BioCure Health lead you in the right direction. Call or text us to schedule an introductory call at 754-206-0838. Your future self will thank you.