STD test from the Office Visit for Refill PrEP Costs too Much?

Hi folks, I’m from SoCal. I work for a company which has more than 1k employees, here, I have my health insurance through my employer. I’m a healthy, early-40s gay man. I’ve been taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) from around 2-3 years ago. I was told I need to routinely check my STD status every three months in order to refill my PrEP. Which I understood that this is the way to protect myself, for example, if I infected HIV I would need to stop taking PrEP and switching to other proper treatment. I’m pretty sure the doctor has also been monitoring my kidney functionalities or other vital results from the tests.

I have high-deductible insurance, the deductible amount is $3k/yr, then co-insurance getting to 20% once the deductible is meet. My employer (and myself) contributed another $1.3k/yr to my HSA account.

I’m pretty healthy, which means normally I go to visit my doctor once a year for the annual check. Since I’m taking PrEP, I have to meet my PCP every three months. As I said, since I don’t have that much of the health-related cost to spend, thus my health-cost is hardly meet $3k.

After each visit, I will get a bill which always drive my nerve. Here is the story after read the bill. Normally, the Office Charge is around $900, then the insurance pays $0 (like I said I don’t meet the deductible). There’s a term called “Adjustments” (I don’t know what’s this and why. I suppose this is some agreements between the health provider and the insurance, which normally like a discount), anyway, the adjustments are normally $250. This makes my responsibility $650 for the Office Visit.

Sometimes, I also got the charge from the Lab or the Hospital Service, they follow the similar patten above, since I normally don’t meet the deductible, I’m responsible for paying all the costs.

The PrEP itself is free.

I have roughly calculated, every year, I would need to pay around $3.5k for the STD tests (including the other metabolic test that my PCP ordered to the lab). Of course, after I meet $3k watershed, I only need to pay 20% until the Out-of-Pocket Maximum, which is $6k.

I don’t know why, I just feel uncomfortable of this situation. Since the PrEP itself is free, and this is a totally preventive medication. I understand the regular STD and blood tests are essential, but for paying ~$3.5k is such a burden. To be honest, if I don’t take PrEP, I normally don’t go to clinics, which means I could save $3-4k from my own pocket.

On the other hand, I consider my case is pervasive, I am healthy, have high-deductible HSA healthy insurance, taking PrEP, need to see doctor every three months. How would the other folks deal with it.

I would like to hear your opinions, or any tips/advices. Thanks.