HDL cholesterol test Cost by Hospital

HDL cholesterol test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2148 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$50median cash price · 2148 hospitals, 52 statestypically $16–$154 depending on the hospital
≈ 6.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$89
Cash / self-pay
$50
Insurer-negotiated
$16
Medicare pays
$8
$16$154
Median cash $50  ·  Medicare $8  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $50 — about 6.0× the Medicare rate ($8). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($16).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $89 list price could save about $40 (45%).

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
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $8 $15
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $8 $10 ★ 4/5 275 min 14.5%
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $8 $8 ★ 3/5 160 min 15.7%
Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center Garden Grove, CA $8 $8 ★ 2/5 138 min 16.6%
West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA $8 $8 ★ 2/5 196 min 16.6%
Huntington Beach Hospital Huntington Beach, CA $8 $8 ★ 1/5 173 min 14.8%
La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA $8 $8 ★ 3/5 214 min 16.5%
Chino Valley Medical Center Chino, CA $8 $8 ★ 4/5 173 min 16.1%
San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA $8 $8 ★ 2/5 155 min 15.5%
Desert Valley Hospital Victorville, CA $8 $8 ★ 3/5 173 min 15.8%
Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA $8 $8 ★ 2/5 153 min 15.8%
Montclair Hospital Medical Center Montclair, CA $8 $8 ★ 3/5 151 min 15.3%
Shasta Regional Medical Center Redding, CA $8 $8 ★ 2/5 148 min 15.9%
Southern Regional Medical Center Riverdale, GA $8 $8 ★ 1/5 260 min 15.5%
Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc Newnan, GA $8 $8 ★ 5/5 15.7%
Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago, IL $8 $8 ★ 3/5 184 min 14.0%
Monroe Hospital Bloomington, IN $8 $8 ★ 4/5 105 min 15.1%
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston, ME $8 $8 ★ 4/5 239 min 14.5%
Lake Huron Medical Center Port Huron, MI $8 $8 ★ 4/5 169 min 14.6%
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $8 $8 ★ 2/5 108 min 16.3%
St Joseph Medical Center Kansas City, MO $8 $8 ★ 3/5 126 min 14.9%
North Vista Hospital North Las Vegas, NV $8 $8 ★ 3/5 134 min 15.8%
Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center Reno, NV $8 $9 ★ 4/5 138 min 14.9%
St Mary's General Hospital Passaic, NJ $8 $8 ★ 3/5 183 min 16.2%
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus Denville, NJ $8 $8 ★ 2/5 164 min 16.2%

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 HDL cholesterol 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: $50; Medicare pays $8.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Amerigroup 171
$8
$7 – $20
UnitedHealthcare 1444
$8
$7 – $70
Tricare / VA 434
$8
$7 – $50
MVP Health Care 77
$8
$5 – $63
Medicare 524
$8
$8 – $41
Medicaid 335
$8
$5 – $58
EmblemHealth 59
$8
$5 – $34
Independent Health 51
$8
$7 – $9
Univera 16
$8
$6 – $12
Highmark 121
$9
$5 – $31
AmeriHealth 247
$9
$7 – $33
Devoted Health 250
$9
$8 – $9
Molina Healthcare 550
$9
$6 – $36
Bright Health 63
$9
$8 – $16
UPMC Health Plan 101
$10
$8 – $47
Centene / Ambetter 779
$10
$8 – $69
Kaiser Permanente 224
$11
$6 – $110
Geisinger 69
$11
$8 – $41
Anthem 569
$12
$5 – $55
Humana 1024
$12
$8 – $91
Oscar Health 213
$14
$8 – $39
Priority Health 48
$15
$4 – $68
SelectHealth 47
$16
$8 – $94
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1248
$17
$8 – $86
Aetna 1360
$20
$8 – $104
Cigna 1152
$22
$8 – $96
Health Net 296
$24
$7 – $303
Medica 206
$26
$8 – $93
HealthPartners 226
$28
$8 – $90
Sanford Health Plan 67
$28
$17 – $84
UCare 64
$29
$8 – $78
Harvard Pilgrim 49
$30
$8 – $73
Security Health Plan 51
$38
$8 – $61
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 143
$43
$11 – $140
Coventry 158
$51
$8 – $134
MultiPlan / PHCS network 843
$62
$14 – $276
AvMed 57
$69
$13 – $345
Healthcare Highways 48
$98
$16 – $251

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$15
Rhode Island$25
Tennessee$25
New York$31
Mississippi$32
Oregon$34

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 HDL cholesterol test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers HDL cholesterol test. 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 2148 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $50, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $89, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $16, a Medicare rate of about $8. Most cash prices fall between $16 and $154 — 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 HDL cholesterol test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2148 US hospitals is $50. Most hospitals fall between $16 and $154. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover HDL cholesterol test?
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 HDL cholesterol test?
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 HDL cholesterol 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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