COVID-19 PCR test cost in Baltimore, MD

Prices at 9 hospitals in Baltimore, MD, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $144 — 47% above the US median ($98), roughly 2.8× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore, MD $66 — ★ 3/5 330 min 14.3%
University of Md Medical Center Midtown Campus Baltimore, MD $71 — ★ 3/5 246 min 14.4%
Umd Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute Baltimore, MD $122 — — — —
Mercy Medical Center Inc Baltimore, MD $144 — ★ 3/5 242 min 15.5%
VA Maryland Healthcare System-Baltimore Baltimore, MD $144 — ★ 2/5 — 17.2%
Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore, MD $247 — — — —
Medstar Harbor Hospital Baltimore, MD $350 $357 ★ 4/5 208 min 13.7%
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $352 $360 ★ 3/5 234 min 14.9%
Medstar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore, MD $390 $398 ★ 5/5 216 min 13.5%

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 June 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.

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$147
Cash / self-pay
$144
Insurer-negotiated
$360
Medicare pays
$51
$70$360
Median cash $144  ·  Medicare $51  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $144 — about 2.8× the Medicare rate ($51). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($103).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $147 list price could save about $3 (2%).

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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.

All COVID-19 PCR test prices in Maryland → · All COVID-19 PCR test prices (national) · All hospitals in Baltimore