Basic metabolic panel Cost by Hospital

Basic metabolic panel is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2236 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$93median cash price · 2236 hospitals, 52 statestypically $26–$267 depending on the hospital
≈ 11.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$156
Cash / self-pay
$93
Insurer-negotiated
$21
Medicare pays
$8
$26$267
Median cash $93  ·  Medicare $8  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $93 — about 11.0× the Medicare rate ($8). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($17).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $156 list price could save about $63 (40%).

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
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $14 $9 ★ 3/5 185 min 14.5%
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $14 $9 ★ 4/5 132 min 15.1%
Hancock County Hospital Sneedville, TN $14 $44 106 min
Dickenson Community Hospital Clintwood, VA $14 $19 109 min
Lee County Community Hospital Pennington Gap, VA $14 $14 112 min 15.2%
St Joseph Hospital Bangor, ME $14 $10 ★ 3/5 188 min 15.6%
Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA $14 $10 ★ 3/5 216 min 15.6%
Johnson Memorial Hospital Franklin, IN $14 $9 ★ 5/5 144 min 14.9%
Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center Bristol, TN $14 $9 ★ 2/5 192 min 15.8%
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center Kingsport, TN $14 $9 ★ 2/5 207 min 14.8%
Sycamore Shoals Hospital Elizabethton, TN $14 $10 ★ 2/5 154 min 15.0%
Hawkins County Memorial Hospital Rogersville, TN $14 $9 112 min 14.9%
Greeneville Community Hospital Greeneville, TN $14 $10 ★ 2/5 159 min 16.0%
Johnson City Medical Center Johnson City, TN $14 $9 ★ 1/5 208 min 15.5%
Indian Path Community Hospital Kingsport, TN $14 $9 147 min 14.5%
Franklin Woods Community Hospital Johnson City, TN $14 $9 ★ 3/5 176 min 14.2%
Johnson County Community Hospital Mountain City, TN $14 $9 126 min
Russell County Hospital Lebanon, VA $14 $9 ★ 4/5 117 min 15.8%
Smyth County Community Hospital Marion, VA $14 $9 ★ 3/5 142 min 14.7%
Johnston Memorial Hospital Abingdon, VA $14 $9 ★ 3/5 186 min 15.1%
Lonesome Pine Hospital Big Stone Gap, VA $14 $9 ★ 4/5 132 min 15.7%
Multicare Auburn Medical Center Auburn, WA $14 $9 ★ 2/5 213 min 15.1%
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital Puyallup, WA $14 $9 ★ 2/5 133 min 15.1%
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital Tacoma, WA $14 $9 ★ 2/5 210 min 15.1%
Multicare Covington Medical Center Covington, WA $14 $9 ★ 3/5 177 min 14.8%

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 Basic metabolic panel

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: $93; Medicare pays $8.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Tricare / VA 463
$8
$8 – $110
Medicare 600
$8
$8 – $72
Medicaid 378
$8
$5 – $62
UnitedHealthcare 1600
$9
$7 – $158
Independent Health 51
$9
$7 – $9
Univera 16
$9
$7 – $13
Amerigroup 179
$9
$5 – $33
Devoted Health 255
$9
$8 – $10
Highmark 130
$9
$6 – $39
Molina Healthcare 595
$9
$7 – $75
AmeriHealth 252
$10
$8 – $78
Bright Health 65
$10
$8 – $18
Centene / Ambetter 841
$10
$8 – $254
EmblemHealth 62
$10
$7 – $53
Humana 1121
$11
$8 – $121
UPMC Health Plan 99
$12
$8 – $59
MVP Health Care 81
$13
$7 – $78
Oscar Health 218
$14
$8 – $88
Anthem 619
$14
$7 – $113
Geisinger 67
$15
$8 – $55
Kaiser Permanente 232
$15
$7 – $225
SelectHealth 48
$16
$8 – $112
UCare 66
$17
$8 – $124
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1385
$18
$8 – $188
Priority Health 59
$22
$6 – $128
Medica 247
$24
$8 – $195
Aetna 1482
$24
$8 – $235
Cigna 1244
$25
$8 – $244
Health Net 321
$29
$8 – $659
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$34
$8 – $88
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 156
$46
$11 – $315
HealthPartners 276
$49
$9 – $182
Security Health Plan 55
$59
$8 – $141
Sanford Health Plan 69
$91
$8 – $153
Coventry 168
$99
$8 – $275
MultiPlan / PHCS network 899
$136
$21 – $569
Healthcare Highways 51
$185
$25 – $570
AvMed 61
$260
$14 – $641

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
Maryland$32
Rhode Island$35
New Jersey$35
Puerto Rico$38
Oklahoma$50
Idaho$52

Prices by city

Prices by state

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.

Does Medicare cover Basic metabolic panel?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Basic metabolic panel. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $8. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $2 — 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 2236 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $93, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $156, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $21, a Medicare rate of about $8. Most cash prices fall between $26 and $267 — 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 Basic metabolic panel cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2236 US hospitals is $93. Most hospitals fall between $26 and $267. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Basic metabolic panel?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $8). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Basic metabolic panel?
Medicare pays about $8. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Basic metabolic panel 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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