Whether they’re part of your home care services or you seek them at an in-person facility, blood tests are often a key part of ongoing medical care. Regular blood work can help you understand and mitigate the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and more. But how, you might wonder, can you possibly pay for all that?
Depending on your health insurance status, the answer might be quite simple. Regardless of how you pay, knowing what costs to anticipate can help you plan accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- A blood test usually costs around $10 to $30 with insurance coverage and $40 to $150 without insurance, but these are only average estimates. Your real costs may be lower or higher.
- Both Medicare and NY Medicaid beneficiaries typically pay little to nothing for any medically necessary blood test.
- Even if you don’t have insurance coverage, you’ll likely find that the cost of a blood test is manageable. The key health information it gives you is almost certainly worth the price tag.
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How Much Does a Blood Test Cost in NY?
Based on our findings, the average cost of a blood test in New York falls around $10-30 with health insurance and $40-150 without insurance. Healthcare costs in New York tend to be higher than in other areas of the country, and this includes blood test costs. Still, the price you’ll pay for any lab test depends on several factors, including the:
- Type of test
- Type of collection sample (multiple or single blood collections, urinalysis, etc.)
- Geographic region in which the test is conducted
- Lab or facility running the test (your healthcare provider may send you to an offsite lab to complete the blood test)
- Your specific insurance plan and coverage options
Finding information on healthcare costs is notoriously challenging. The best way to understand what you’ll pay is to contact your insurance provider, whether private or public. You can also speak to your healthcare provider about what to expect.
It’s possible your costs could be higher than what’s shown here, but it’s also possible you might not have to pay anything at all.
Blood Test Cost in NY With and Without Insurance
Your insurance plan is likely the biggest determining factor shaping your out-of-pocket costs for blood work. Private insurance and Medicaid or Medicare can help you manage these costs. However, if you don’t have insurance coverage, prices can skyrocket.
Luckily, not all tests come with steep price tags; it all depends on what you’re being screened for and where. For instance, the cost of blood work conducted at a doctor’s office might be cheaper than blood work done at an urgent care facility.
Some of the most common blood tests you’ll likely encounter include:
- Basic Metabolic Panel: This type of test may be part of your annual doctor’s visit. It gives providers a glimpse at your overall health by measuring your glucose levels, electrolytes, and calcium.
- Blood Glucose Test: As the name implies, this test screens your blood sugar levels. Patients with diabetes may need these tests regularly to monitor their health.
- Complete Blood Count: Checks for red blood cell count, white blood cells, hemoglobin, etc.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: This test is a step above a basic metabolic panel but shares the same goal: to give providers a better look at your general health and wellness.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test: By measuring TSH levels in the blood, this test helps doctors check how well your thyroid gland functions.
- STI Test: These tests look for signs of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or infections (STIs) like chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
- Pregnancy Blood Test: A more accurate form (compared to traditional urine tests) of confirming pregnancy that looks for the hormone hCG.
Let’s dive deeper into the average blood test costs with insurance, with Medicaid or Medicare, and without insurance.
Blood Test Cost With Insurance
The following is a rundown of average blood test costs for those with private health insurance. These estimates are based on costs in New York, but they are still estimates, not guaranteed rates. Be sure to reach out to your insurance company directly for more information about your specific co-payments, deductibles, and other relevant details.
| Basic Metabolic Panel | $11 |
| Blood Glucose Test | $5 |
| Complete Blood Count | $16 |
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel | $22 |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test | $35 |
| STI Test* | $5-50 |
| Pregnancy Blood Test | $15 |
*Varies based on the test(s) conducted; individual conditions may require their own screening processes.
Blood Test Cost With Medicaid or Medicare
Good news: the cost of a blood test with Medicaid or Medicare is usually little to nothing. But it all comes down to your situation. Remember, there is a key difference between Medicaid and Medicare: Medicaid is a state-based program, while Medicare is federal. That means New York residents can expect different Medicaid requirements and benefits than residents of other states.
NYC’s Medicaid program usually covers lab services, but whether you have copayments or receive coverage depends on the circumstances. You will, of course, need to qualify for Medicaid. Beyond that, you’ll need your doctor to order the blood tests to a Medicaid-approved facility.
Meanwhile, Medicare – specifically Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) – should cover all medically necessary clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, including blood tests. In most cases, you’ll pay nothing for Medicare-approved blood tests. However, exceptions exist; you might be asked to pay a small copayment or be expected to pay out-of-pocket for “unnecessary” screenings.
Blood Test Cost Without Insurance
The cost of a blood test without insurance is, unsurprisingly, higher than it would be with insurance. But costs are still fairly manageable, especially if your blood tests are conducted in an outpatient facility. Take a look at these averages to get a feel for what to expect:
| Basic Metabolic Panel | $51 |
| Blood Glucose Test | $31 |
| Complete Blood Count | $40 |
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel | $105 |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test | $106 |
| STI Test* | $40-140 |
| Pregnancy Blood Test | $90 |
*Varies based on the test(s) conducted; individual conditions may require their own screening processes.
Keep in mind that these figures are based on a single test. For instance, if you have blood work done for a basic metabolic panel, but your doctor decides to use this sample to conduct other tests simultaneously, you’ll have to pay for those, too. That’s why it’s so important to be transparent with your provider; don’t be afraid to ask questions or express your concerns.
Paying for the medical care you need shouldn’t have to be a headache. When in doubt, it’s best to speak up. With the information you need in mind, you can make an informed choice about how to best proceed.
Resources
The information in this article was obtained from the sources listed below. Please keep in mind that all costs are estimates, and actual costs may vary.
