Strep throat test Cost by Hospital

Strep throat test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2052 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$57median cash price · 2052 hospitals, 52 statestypically $19–$141 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.5× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$98
Cash / self-pay
$57
Insurer-negotiated
$25
Medicare pays
$17
$19$141
Median cash $57  ·  Medicare $17  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $57 — about 3.5× the Medicare rate ($17). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($33).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $98 list price could save about $41 (42%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
Quick fill:

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
East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA $9 $17 ★ 2/5 162 min 15.3%
Acadia General Hospital Crowley, LA $9 $17 ★ 3/5 108 min 15.4%
Saint Vincent Hospital Erie, PA $9 $17 ★ 4/5 212 min 14.7%
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $9 $20 ★ 3/5 227 min 14.3%
CHI St Vincent Morrilton Morrilton, AR $9 $18 — 93 min 15.0%
Banner Goldfield Medical Center Apache Junction, AZ $9 $18 ★ 5/5 150 min 15.3%
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $9 — — 130 min 15.2%
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $9 — — 104 min 15.4%
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Niagara Falls, NY $9 $13 ★ 1/5 236 min 15.3%
Jefferson Hospital Louisville, GA $10 $17 — 92 min 15.2%
Jefferson Hospital Jefferson Hills, PA $10 $17 ★ 4/5 172 min 15.4%
Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA $10 $17 ★ 1/5 132 min 16.3%
Hendricks Community Hospital Hendricks, MN $10 — — 111 min —
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $10 $20 ★ 3/5 239 min 15.1%
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Casa Grande, AZ $10 $22 ★ 2/5 175 min 16.6%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $11 $18 ★ 2/5 104 min 15.3%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $11 $17 ★ 1/5 152 min 15.0%
Sparrow Ionia Hospital Ionia, MI $11 $16 ★ 2/5 158 min 15.2%
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Camden, NJ $11 — ★ 2/5 161 min 15.4%
Virtua Willingboro Hospital Willingboro, NJ $11 — ★ 3/5 181 min 14.8%
Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 4/5 464 min 14.9%
Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta Murrieta, CA $11 $17 ★ 2/5 226 min 16.4%
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 3/5 222 min —
Loma Linda VA Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 3/5 — 14.7%
Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA $11 $16 ★ 3/5 155 min 15.6%

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.

What insurers pay for Strep throat 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: $57; Medicare pays $17.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Geisinger 59
$10
$8 – $66
Independent Health 50
$14
$4 – $17
Medicaid 321
$15
$4 – $33
Amerigroup 156
$17
$8 – $48
UnitedHealthcare 1367
$17
$12 – $72
Tricare / VA 413
$17
$15 – $73
MVP Health Care 78
$17
$8 – $61
Medicare 506
$17
$16 – $33
Highmark 117
$17
$11 – $40
EmblemHealth 60
$17
$4 – $45
Devoted Health 231
$17
$17 – $19
AmeriHealth 228
$17
$6 – $62
Molina Healthcare 504
$17
$4 – $46
Univera 13
$17
$5 – $24
UPMC Health Plan 81
$17
$8 – $69
Centene / Ambetter 754
$18
$14 – $94
Anthem 520
$18
$14 – $86
Humana 969
$18
$16 – $149
Bright Health 60
$20
$17 – $35
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 132
$23
$20 – $101
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1177
$23
$14 – $98
Oscar Health 200
$26
$17 – $67
Kaiser Permanente 213
$29
$14 – $96
Aetna 1272
$31
$16 – $120
Priority Health 49
$33
$12 – $78
UCare 63
$33
$17 – $69
SelectHealth 45
$34
$17 – $90
Cigna 1047
$36
$16 – $115
Medica 187
$40
$17 – $121
Harvard Pilgrim 51
$41
$17 – $80
Health Net 284
$41
$17 – $193
Sanford Health Plan 70
$48
$26 – $93
HealthPartners 226
$48
$17 – $139
Coventry 138
$59
$17 – $146
Security Health Plan 50
$60
$17 – $94
MultiPlan / PHCS network 732
$74
$26 – $204
Healthcare Highways 45
$95
$33 – $258
AvMed 37
$152
$17 – $482

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
Arizona$15
New Jersey$19
Rhode Island$22
Louisiana$30
Kentucky$34
Tennessee$35

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAHouston, TXAustin, TXBaltimore, MDCincinnati, OHDallas, TXNew York, NYSacramento, CABronx, NYBrooklyn, NYCharlotte, NCKansas City, MOMilwaukee, WISaint Louis, MOBaton Rouge, LABirmingham, ALFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANew Orleans, LAOklahoma City, OKRochester, NYSan Diego, CAAlbuquerque, NM

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioNew YorkIllinoisPennsylvaniaNorth CarolinaWisconsinMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaMinnesotaFloridaMissouriTennesseeColoradoOklahomaIowaVirginiaNew JerseyIndianaKentuckyKansasArkansasNebraskaSouth DakotaMississippiArizonaWest VirginiaMaineMassachusettsMarylandWashingtonAlabamaSouth CarolinaOregonNorth DakotaIdahoUtahMontanaNew HampshireNew MexicoConnecticutNevadaPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontAlaskaDelawareRhode Island

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2052 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $57, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $98, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $25, a Medicare rate of about $17. Most cash prices fall between $19 and $141 — 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 Strep throat test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2052 US hospitals is $57. Most hospitals fall between $19 and $141. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Strep throat 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 Strep throat 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.

Related Lab Tests

Hemoglobin A1c (diabetes test)Complete blood count (CBC) (complete)Ferritin (iron) testBNP (heart failure) testFree T4 thyroid testDrug screen (urine)Folate (folic acid) testVitamin B12 test

See more Lab Tests.