Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test Cost by Hospital

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2265 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$87median cash price · 2265 hospitals, 52 statestypically $25–$221 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$155
Cash / self-pay
$87
Insurer-negotiated
$31
Medicare pays
$17
$25$221
Median cash $87  ·  Medicare $17  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $87 — about 5.2× the Medicare rate ($17). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($34).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $155 list price could save about $67 (44%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital Panama City, FL $13 $14 ★ 2/5 128 min 14.1%
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR $13 — ★ 3/5 166 min 14.7%
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR $13 — ★ 4/5 186 min 14.1%
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Gresham, OR $13 — ★ 3/5 154 min 14.4%
Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Tualatin, OR $13 — ★ 2/5 175 min 14.7%
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver, WA $13 — ★ 4/5 272 min 14.1%
West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $14 $17 ★ 3/5 203 min 16.3%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $14 $12 — 70 min —
University Hospital and Medical Center Tamarac, FL $14 $10 ★ 2/5 124 min 16.3%
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Brandon, FL $14 $10 ★ 3/5 103 min 16.7%
Legacy Silverton Medical Center Silverton, OR $14 — — 140 min 14.7%
College Medical Center Long Beach, CA $14 $17 ★ 3/5 330 min 15.2%
College Hospital Cerritos, CA $14 $17 — — —
Glendora Hospital Glendora, CA $14 $17 — — —
Palmetto General Hospital Hialeah, FL $14 $14 ★ 2/5 194 min 15.3%
Maria Parham Medical Center Henderson, NC $14 $24 ★ 2/5 167 min 15.5%
Grant Memorial Hospital Petersburg, WV $14 — ★ 3/5 105 min 15.4%
Alamance Regional Medical Center Burlington, NC $15 $31 ★ 3/5 218 min 13.7%
Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, The Greensboro, NC $15 $31 ★ 3/5 222 min 13.9%
California Hospital Medical Center La Los Angeles, CA $15 $17 ★ 2/5 254 min 15.4%
South Central Reg Med Ctr Laurel, MS $15 $19 ★ 1/5 129 min 16.9%
University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX $15 $17 ★ 3/5 242 min 15.4%
El Camino Health Mountain View, CA $15 — ★ 4/5 159 min 14.5%
HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital Fort Pierce, FL $16 $9 ★ 1/5 127 min 16.5%
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $16 $31 — — —

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated August 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $87; Medicare pays $17.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 356
$17
$7 – $55
Amerigroup 179
$17
$8 – $49
Medicare 564
$17
$16 – $56
EmblemHealth 62
$17
$7 – $135
UnitedHealthcare 1549
$17
$14 – $126
Devoted Health 252
$17
$17 – $22
Independent Health 51
$17
$15 – $34
Univera 16
$18
$8 – $25
Molina Healthcare 577
$18
$8 – $75
MVP Health Care 82
$18
$9 – $146
Tricare / VA 452
$18
$15 – $70
AmeriHealth 253
$18
$15 – $55
Bright Health 65
$20
$17 – $34
Anthem 603
$21
$14 – $112
Highmark 124
$22
$11 – $77
Humana 1079
$24
$17 – $177
Centene / Ambetter 827
$25
$15 – $123
UPMC Health Plan 99
$25
$17 – $84
Oscar Health 217
$28
$17 – $57
Geisinger 69
$28
$17 – $79
Health Net 306
$29
$8 – $258
AvMed 61
$29
$4 – $109
UCare 63
$29
$12 – $124
Kaiser Permanente 225
$30
$12 – $166
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 145
$33
$18 – $258
SelectHealth 46
$33
$11 – $144
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1333
$33
$14 – $147
Aetna 1427
$37
$16 – $172
Priority Health 56
$38
$9 – $105
Medica 238
$41
$17 – $150
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$45
$17 – $146
HealthPartners 261
$48
$17 – $155
Cigna 1203
$49
$16 – $178
Coventry 165
$63
$16 – $278
Sanford Health Plan 69
$76
$14 – $153
Security Health Plan 52
$84
$17 – $147
MultiPlan / PHCS network 879
$104
$25 – $274
Healthcare Highways 50
$126
$39 – $349

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
New Jersey$25
Alabama$41
Maryland$43
Tennessee$46
Kentucky$57
Nevada$58

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDDallas, TXAustin, TXCincinnati, OHHouston, TXNew York, NYFort Worth, TXBronx, NYBrooklyn, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKSacramento, CASaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBaton Rouge, LABirmingham, ALKansas City, MOMilwaukee, WINew Orleans, LAOmaha, NE

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaWisconsinPennsylvaniaIllinoisNew YorkMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaLouisianaTennesseeMissouriIowaColoradoNebraskaOklahomaKentuckyKansasArkansasSouth DakotaIndianaVirginiaWashingtonMarylandNew JerseyMississippiMassachusettsWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaArizonaMontanaOregonIdahoConnecticutNew MexicoNew HampshireUtahPuerto RicoNevadaHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Chirag Patel, MDInternal MedicineChattanooga, TN657
Leon Nitkin, MDObstetrics & GynecologyBrooklyn, NY108
Irene Kakossian, M.D.Obstetrics & GynecologyBrooklyn, NY86
David Quarles, NPNurse PractitionerFlowood, MS74
Abbie Kalem, FNPNurse PractitionerRichland, MS44
Lokesh Bathla, MDGeneral SurgerySan Antonio, TX42
Wai-Hang Lam, M.D.Family PracticeSan Francisco, CA33
Jack Huynh, MDInternal MedicineSan Francisco, CA31
Kwokming ChengFamily PracticeSan Francisco, CA31
Richard Huynh, MDFamily PracticeSan Francisco, CA30
Ashish Arora, MDGastroenterologyElmhurst, IL30
Steve Gutnik, MDGastroenterologyYankton, SD26

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $17. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $3 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2265 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $87, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $155, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $31, a Medicare rate of about $17. Most cash prices fall between $25 and $221 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2265 US hospitals is $87. Most hospitals fall between $25 and $221. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $17). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test?
Medicare pays about $17. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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