US Health Care Costs

COVID-19 PCR test

CPT 87635 · Lab tests · hospital facility charge

At the 126 hospitals whose price files we have read so far, the typical cash price is $84, and most charge between $50 and $170 (the middle 80%; price files contain errors, so the extremes are left out). Pick a state to compare its hospitals.

Estimate what you would pay

$84typical cash price
$80typical commercial insurer rate
$158typical list price
126hospitals in 32 states so far
Typical cash price by state
AKMEWIVTNHWA$76ID$228MTNDMN$34IL$93MI$71NY$147MA$113OR$158NV$89WYSDIA$116IN$66OH$85PA$63NJ$58CT$123RICA$84UT$141CONE$43MO$92KY$103WVVA$40MD$50DE$227AZ$127NMKSARTN$33NC$89SC$124DCOK$91LAMSAL$103GA$90HITX$74FL$101PR

Every state

StateHospitalsTypical cash priceLowest cashHighest cashTypical insurer price
Alabama1$103$103$103$65
Arizona2$127$99$154$103
California11$84$55$227$80
Connecticut1$123$123$123$51
Delaware1$227$227$227$145
Florida8$101$79$178$89
Georgia6$90$31$222$53
Iowa1$116$116$116$51
Idaho2$228$228$228$115
Illinois6$93$54$226$108
Indiana2$66$49$83$109
Kentucky2$103$52$154$83
Massachusetts3$113$113$168$105
Maryland1$50$50$50–
Michigan3$71$71$226$79
Minnesota1$34$34$34$85
Missouri4$92$55$145$114
North Carolina4$89$54$89$76
Nebraska1$43$43$43$82
New Jersey8$58$51$59$128
Nevada1$89$89$89$51
New York1$147$147$147$51
Ohio7$85$48$230$72
Oklahoma3$91$64$130$98
Oregon1$158$158$158$156
Pennsylvania8$63$59$243$76
South Carolina4$124$66$156$50
Tennessee2$33$33$33$57
Texas21$74$18$136$51
Utah2$141$129$152$146
Virginia6$40$40$81$52
Washington2$76$73$78$100
126 hospitals so far: only hospitals whose price files we've read are listed, and more are added every night. The price is the hospital's part; the doctor usually bills separately.

Common questions

How much does COVID-19 PCR test cost at a hospital?

At 121 hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for COVID-19 PCR test is $84, and most charge between $50 and $170. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $80. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for COVID-19 PCR test?

At 49 of the 108 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is lower than the typical insurer rate. Remember that with insurance you pay only your share of that rate once your deductible is met, and that cash payments usually don't count toward your deductible.

Does the price include the doctor?

No. These are the hospital's own charges, often called the facility fee. The doctors involved, such as the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the radiologist who reads a scan, usually send a separate bill.

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