I Tried Dr. Mark Hyman’s Function Health Platform—Here’s What I Learned

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If you’re like me, getting a full bloodwork panel from your primary care physician has historically been next to impossible. Even when using the à la carte approach—which seems to be the only way to get a doctor to look at bloodwork for any symptoms—many traditional MDs fail to examine the results for outliers that don’t fall neatly within the protocol. While I’m certainly not an MD, I get frustrated and feel like I’m being gaslit by medical providers I’m supposed to trust. Of course, getting bloodwork from a functional practitioner is not usually covered by insurance, and as someone on a media budget, it previously wasn’t in the cards for me.

With Function Health, patients are able to get comprehensive bloodwork and detailed results and insights without having to haggle and hassle with their insurance or beg their physicians for referrals or coverage. The ability to take my health into my own hands was naturally a huge draw for me—and, apparently, I’m not alone; within the first year of launching, Function Health had a sizable waitlist of 200,000 plus.

“As a practicing family physician and a leader in the paradigm shift of Functional Medicine—focusing on root causes of disease, not just treating the symptoms—I’ve spent decades witnessing firsthand the gaps in our health-care system—particularly in prevention and early detection,” Dr. Hyman told the Daily Beast. “I co-founded Function Health to bridge the gap between traditional health care and the growing demand for personalized, proactive solutions.” Function Health empowers patients to take their health and longevity into their own hands, offering access to over 100 lab tests for just $499 a year.

“Traditional health care often focuses on a limited set of lab tests during annual check-ups or when symptoms arise, leaving many critical insights unexplored,” he stated. “Function Health addresses this gap by offering access to 100+ lab tests for just $499 per year. This comprehensive testing, which is five times more than a typical physical, averaging 19 lab tests, equips individuals with the insights needed for prevention and early intervention. By comparison, this amount of testing could cost up to $15,000 elsewhere, making it both impactful and accessible.”

But Dr. Hyman isn’t trying to replace your primary care doctor—merely to help optimize your time with them. “As patients demand more personalized and preventive solutions, approaches like functional medicine have gained traction, and physicians are starting to address the interconnected systems that drive health and disease,” he explained. “Function Health is redefining this approach by equipping individuals with a proactive, accessible understanding of their health—and, in turn, helping optimize time spent in doctors’ visits.”

What I love about Function Health’s testing is that it goes far beyond what my primary care doctor would recommend (or oblige) to give me. It examines not just cholesterol and glucose but also fertility, thyroid function, mineral levels, autoimmunity, hormones, and so much more—all within just two tests spaced out two weeks apart. Plus, aside from insanely detailed analytics of your lab work results, you also receive bespoke nutrition recommendations—including what to eat and what foods to avoid—as well as a supplementation plan. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a physician recommend supplements—it’s usually just an unnecessary prescription that comes with a laundry of side effects.

I was lucky enough to be able to try Function Health, and I was genuinely shocked by how streamlined the testing process was and how detailed, thorough, and insightful my analysis was. $499 may cause a little sticker shock initially, but after my experience, I am actually surprised at how affordable this service is and what a good value it presents. Read below to find out more about Function Health.

How Does Function Health Work?

Once you’re logged in, patients are able to schedule two blood draw sessions. As a female, I was instructed to schedule my first sessions during my period before noon and the second when I wasn’t on my cycle to ensure accuracy. From there, I was able to schedule my blood draw appointment directly through Function Health’s app (or website) at a local lab—I used Quest Diagnostics because it was the closest to me. After completing both lab draws (this took about four weeks due to scheduling and having to wait until my period to start, etc.), it only took about a week for my results to come in. They appear on an online dashboard as they come in, which is nice. Once all of the results are in, it takes an additional two weeks or so for the doctors to input their analysis and recommendations.

What Tests Are Included?

The test includes over 100 biomarkers, including nutrients, heart, thyroid, kidney, autoimmunity, electrolytes, heart, liver, and more. You can also choose from a number of “add-on” tests, which cost additional fees outside of the $499. These include sexual health (STI testing), Lyme disease, infection, cancer risk, and more. As someone who has long been concerned about contracting Lyme disease, being able to add this to my testing for just $49 was incredible.

Is Insurance Involved?

No, Function Health is entirely insurance-free, but it will undoubtedly save you money. Plus, it’s HSA/FSA eligible. As Dr. Hyman mentioned, this level of testing would cost around $15,000 elsewhere, so $499 is an incredible deal.

My Experience With Function

After years of unexplained symptoms, I was finally able to test for autoimmunity. It turns out it wasn’t just anxiety or seasonal, allergy-induced asthma as some previous doctors had said. My autoimmunity biomarkers suggested I may have an autoimmune disease, and now I’m able to ask my doctor for follow-up tests.