How Much Does It Cost To Get Blood Work Done

How Much Do Blood Tests Cost?

With Health Insurance: Copays of $0-$30 or 10%-50+% Coinsurance

Total Costs: $100-$3,000+ Without Insurance

Blood tests can measure cells, lipids, proteins, sugars, hormones, tumor markers and other blood components. They are used to diagnose and treat of many diseases including diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disease and cancer.

Typical costs:

CostHelper readers with insurance report out-of-pocket costs of $283 -$675 for blood tests, with an average of $432; total billed costs were $312 -$1,200 (averaging $755), with the insurance either paying or discounting the total cost by $29 -$525.
For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for blood work typically consist of a copay ranging from nothing to $30 or more, or coinsurance of 10%-50% or more; deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums will apply.
Blood tests are often covered by health insurance for preventive, diagnostic or treatment purposes, but coverage depends on the individual case and the terms of the health insurance plan.
CostHelper readers without health insurance report total costs of $700 -$2,589, averaging $1,543. For patients not covered by health insurance, total costs can be $100 -$3,000 or more, depending on the number and type of tests ordered; the cost of any doctor visits to order and interpret the tests; and whether the tests are done on an emergency basis.
Routine blood work done as part of an annual physical or a new patient exam can cost $100 -$1,000 or more. Often ordered in connection with an annual physical, a complete blood count (CBC) test alone can cost $10 -$150 or more.
Depending on the patient's symptoms, doctors typically order multiple tests to check for a number of conditions; comprehensive panels of tests can cost $80 -$1,500 or more, and combining several testing packages can bring total costs to $1,500 -$2,700 or more.

Related articles: Antibody Test, PSA Test

What should be included:

Before any blood test, the patient typically will be given instructions to follow, such as fasting for a certain number of hours. The medical provider then draws blood and sends it to a laboratory for analysis. Results usually are provided to the patient and/or their doctor within a few days to a week.
The National Institutes of Health lists types of common blood tests[1] .

Additional costs:

Depending on the results, the doctor may recommend additional testing.

Discounts:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator [2] for clinics providing services on an income-based sliding scale.
Many hospitals offer discounts of up to 50% for uninsured/self-paying patients. For example, St. Joseph Hospital[3] in Orange, CA discounts its billed charges by 45%.

Shopping for blood tests:

Patients with health insurance that requires them to use "in network" providers should check whether a specific lab is within the network; a doctor who works within an insurance plan might, without checking, refer patients to a lab that isn't covered under that plan. Always double-check for insurance coverage before any blood work is done.
Blood tests can be done at the office of a primary care provider or specialist, in a clinic or in a hospital.
For patients who want anonymity or do not wish to go through a doctor, companies such as LabCorp[4] , Quest Diagnostics[5] and Health Testing Centers[6] offer laboratory testing direct to patients. However, it is important to seek the advice of a doctor for any health concerns.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

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Comments (61)

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

Page 3 of 3 - << Previous 1 23

Posted by: lmx in los angeles, CA.	Posted: October 29th, 2021 08:10AM
Medical Center: All	Type of Blood Test: All

Another useful tool -
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/DRG-Pricing-Resources-for-SFY-2021-22.aspx
This is the pricing calculator for getting the Medicaid California reimbursement rate for the ENTIRE COST of inpatient admissions. Medicare and Medicaid have in most states implemented pricing scheme based on the "DRG", which is a code for reason patient was admitted, rather than paying for each service because hospitals of rampant over billing.
Basically, you take the primary reason for the admission, use the national average for days people stay in the hospital for that reason, take into consideration some extenuating circumstances, and thats the TOTAL AMOUNT hospitals should get paid for a specific admit. The overall cost to charge ratio is also telling - hospitals usually bill 4-5 times what they actually expect to receive in a negotiated rate situation.

Posted by: lmx in Los Angeles, CA.	Posted: October 29th, 2021 08:10AM
Medical Center:	Type of Blood Test: All

I started working at a medicare advantage a couple of years ago, and our contracted rate for most blood tests are $5-10 a piece.
If you want to get an idea of how much insurers pay - look up the CPT code for your test, and check them against how much medicaid in California pays :
https://files.medi-cal.ca.gov/rates/rates_download.aspx
Medicare rates are a bit more difficult to calculate because it has a complicated set of factors and regional adjustments, but a good rule of thumb is to take highest base medicaid rate for your procedure, multiply it by 2 (it's usually much less than that), and no insurer will pay a negotiated rate higher than that. $0 rates are non-covered procedures, or considered incidental to other care. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Heartfailure121 in Morris, IL.	Posted: May 3rd, 2021 11:05AM
Medical Center: Morris Hospital	Type of Blood Test: Full Panel

Ridiculous.
W.O. insurance : $2,822.06
With Insurance: $812.02
Sounds like double billing insurance fraud.

Posted by: TimR in Greenville, TX.	Posted: June 10th, 2019 05:06PM
Medical Center: Lab Corp	Type of Blood Test: Annual Wellness

I have learned for any Medicare work to be careful: The patient authorization/sign up sheet typically has a phrase that if Medicare doesn't cover a cost, I will pay for it. I scratch this out and write that I decline and do not authorize any tests, treatments or other expenditures not covered by Medicare. I cannot afford them. I do not understand what is and is not covered. That is the responsibility of those offering the service to determine in advance. I now do this on every Medicare service. So far, no one has turned me down. I also request a copy of the document. In 2017 I received a bill from Labcorp for about $500 in blood work not covered by Medicare. I referred to my written document showing this was an unauthorized service, that I did not have the means to pay for it, and I was refusing to. After a few phone calls they admitted it was their mistake and cancelled the charges. I would rather find someone willing to do this than get caught with bills I can't pay.

Posted by: Gino Smile in Pocatello, ID.	Posted: May 16th, 2019 11:05AM
Medical Center: Portneuf Medical Center	Type of Blood Test: 6 blood tests

they told us that the bill for the ER visit was only $210. later on we receive a bill for $1000. i got around 4-6 blood tests. all im mad about is that they lied to us.

Posted by: Guy Majewski in Conway, SC.	Posted: January 21st, 2019 01:01PM
Medical Center:	Type of Blood Test: ANNUAL

SUPRISED THAT IT COSTS $1276 WHEN USING INSURANCE. COPAY WAS $176. LOOKING AT OTHER POSTS, I GUESS I GOT A (DEAL?)

Posted by: a user in Paramus, NJ.	Posted: May 29th, 2018 12:05PM
Medical Center: Lab Corp	Type of Blood Test:

I have medicare and supplemental insurance. I am being charged $299 for 4 blood tests that medicare did not cover. I don't know if my doctor screwed up on requesting the tests. This is total BS. Pay for medicare insurance & supplemental insurance and still get a bill. Why $299 for 4 blood tests with insurance?

Posted by: DMR in aurora, IL.	Posted: May 12th, 2018 10:05AM
Medical Center: labcorp	Type of Blood Test: PT

Patient went where he was directed to go and his out of pocket was marked up about 80 to 90% in my experience as a Phlebotomist working with various Labs

Posted by: MissSweet in Kirksville, MO.	Posted: March 22nd, 2018 02:03AM
Medical Center: Northeast Regional Medical Center	Type of Blood Test: Have yet to disclose that information me

Got a bill with no information about tests or cost of each, how many, what kind, information at the hospital was withheld until I got my bill... $6,187.97

Posted by: hlc in Houston, TX.	Posted: February 10th, 2018 09:02AM
Medical Center: Labcorp	Type of Blood Test: Various

My insurance carrier initially refused payment due to a clerical error on their part. The bill from labcorp rolled in at $980. Months later and weeks from going to collections, insurance company corrected error and reprocessed, and amount reduced to $180 per negotiated discount with carrier. I got curious and have researched this issue extensively and have learned that both Labcorp and Quest offer a 45% discount for uninsured, but that you have to work with your doctor and the lab to get the discount. I also checked with multiple online web labs and have uncovered that discounts for the same tests from retail range from as little as 25% to a high of 43%. The marketing is sleek, but the pricing model is straight forward. The labs themselves are milking the uninsured by greater than 230% from those who know how to negotiate this mine field and the on-line labs are simply marking up a few points over the lab providers' uninsured discount. As for those who don't know, the markup is 540%

Posted by: GodBless Us in Lebanon, NH.	Posted: January 17th, 2018 07:01PM
Medical Center: By Doc and Hospital	Type of Blood Test: CBC, Thyroid, Hormone

Why is blood lab work so freaking expensive?
During one visit with Doc, my EOB from Ins. Company showed Doc Blood full CBC @ 900., Hospital Lab @ 4,918. Really? Three viles with Doc at one visit. What does it mean, Doc looked at one and sent two to Hospital? Who controls these outrageous fees? Thank God we have Insurance; billed 333. How do they get away billing it? God Bless America!

Posted by: Gary Jacobsen in Woodbridge, VA.	Posted: December 6th, 2017 09:12AM
Medical Center: Ft Belvoir VA	Type of Blood Test: Full panel

The Dept of Veterans' Affairs has various clinics that provide comprehensive care and blood tests for veterans. Mine is at Ft Belvoir, VA, and they do all tests for me at no cost. I then take test results to my civilian doctor.

Posted by: JOHN R PIEDRA in Charlottesville, VA.	Posted: November 11th, 2017 09:11AM
Medical Center: UVA Kidney Center	Type of Blood Test: CBC, TAC

I have had well over 50 blood tests since Kidney Transplant, each costing around $125 or less., $40 out of pocket after Insurance. UVA charged me $4,780 for exact same testing, and my out of pocket is $820 ! OUTRAGEOUS, NOT paying, and contacting State Attorney General

Posted by: Chris B. in Glendale, AZ.	Posted: November 6th, 2017 10:11PM
Medical Center: Abruzzo Arrowhead	Type of Blood Test: CMP, CBC,Lipase

Went to the ER for pelvic pain. I was billed:
$92.82 for a liter of normal saline (IVF)
$732.12 for a CMP
$101.20 for a urinalysis
$250.47 for a CBC
$169.20 for a PT
$616.31 for "IV HYD INT >31M"
$350.66 for a lipase
$866.52 for "ABD ACUTE COMP"
and a whopping $2123.62 "for ER visit level IV"
... I was only in the ER for 2 hours, the "doctor"
examined me THROUGH MY CLOTHES(!), and then separately billed me over $500.00 for that "exam".
Thoroughly criminal, in my opinion.

Posted by: Jonathon in Meriden, CT.	Posted: August 2nd, 2017 06:08PM
Medical Center: Quest diagnostics	Type of Blood Test: Lupus full screen

Posted by: Molly Brown in Frederick, MD.	Posted: June 23rd, 2017 10:06AM
Medical Center: Woman Health Specialists	Type of Blood Test: CA 125

How can one blood test cost that much money...horrible.

Posted by: Bur1yman in Chicago, IL.	Posted: February 22nd, 2017 01:02PM
Medical Center: Northwestern Memorial	Type of Blood Test: Basic

In October, a full workup cost me $30 out of pocket. I just got a basic workup in Jan. after being put on blood meds and it cost me $187. Why so much for a more basic test?

Posted by: Care in Not sure, OK.	Posted: February 7th, 2017 03:02PM
Medical Center: Newman memorial hospital	Type of Blood Test: Thyroid, urine

My dr started using the facility for lab work. I have never been charged this much before, and can't afford to pay it, haven't worked since October. The hospital told me they actually out source it to someone else in another state, I called them to get a explanation but nobody answers.

Posted by: Cindy Bonyata in Houston, TX.	Posted: January 26th, 2017 01:01PM
Medical Center: Southwest Laboratory	Type of Blood Test: CBC

Simple CBC was ordered for unknown reasons by my pain mgmt dr. Won't send to my in network Labcorp - and charged a whopping $7939.32. Insurance wouldn't pay bc out of network. Now sending me the bill for a reduced $329.87! Um NO. I have a zero copay and excellent insurance. This is such a ripoff and I'm shutting them down.

Posted by: Joan G. in Garner,, NC.	Posted: November 26th, 2016 08:11AM
Medical Center: Wake Med Garner, NC	Type of Blood Test: CLL

My insurance company was billed $3,220 for this test. They paid $643.80. This was not for a group of tests. The amount charged is outrageous. I don't think the hospital or doctors see or are aware of these excessive amounts. I feel the patient must stand up for the insurance company in these circumstances. The testing company is NeoGenomics Labs in Orlando, FL

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External Resources:

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/types.html
findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
www.sjo.org/For-Patients/Your-Hospital-Bill/Self-Pay-Discount-Program.aspx
/www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/findalab/
www.questdiagnostics.com/home.html
www.healthtestingcenters.com/

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