Strep throat test Cost by Hospital

Strep throat test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2105 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$59median cash price · 2105 hospitals, 52 statestypically $19–$141 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$99
Cash / self-pay
$59
Insurer-negotiated
$25
Medicare pays
$17
$19$141
Median cash $59  ·  Medicare $17  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $59 — about 3.5× the Medicare rate ($17). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($33).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $99 list price could save about $41 (41%).

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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
East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA $9 $17 ★ 2/5 157 min —
Acadia General Hospital Crowley, LA $9 $17 ★ 3/5 109 min —
Saint Vincent Hospital Erie, PA $9 $17 ★ 4/5 219 min —
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $9 $20 ★ 3/5 224 min —
CHI St Vincent Morrilton Morrilton, AR $9 $18 — 98 min —
Banner Goldfield Medical Center Apache Junction, AZ $9 $18 ★ 5/5 146 min —
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $9 — — 130 min —
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $9 — — 103 min —
Jefferson Hospital Louisville, GA $10 $17 — 99 min —
Jefferson Hospital Jefferson Hills, PA $10 $17 ★ 4/5 170 min —
Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA $10 $17 ★ 1/5 138 min —
Hendricks Community Hospital Hendricks, MN $10 — — 115 min —
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $10 $20 ★ 3/5 230 min —
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Niagara Falls, NY $10 $17 ★ 1/5 229 min —
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Casa Grande, AZ $10 $22 ★ 2/5 174 min —
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $11 $18 ★ 2/5 104 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $11 $17 ★ 1/5 168 min —
Sparrow Ionia Hospital Ionia, MI $11 $16 ★ 2/5 158 min —
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Camden, NJ $11 — ★ 2/5 168 min —
Virtua Willingboro Hospital Willingboro, NJ $11 — ★ 3/5 178 min —
Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 4/5 413 min —
Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta Murrieta, CA $11 $17 ★ 2/5 224 min —
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Loma Linda VA Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $11 $17 ★ 3/5 — —
Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA $11 $16 ★ 3/5 155 min —

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 October 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: $59; Medicare pays $17.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Geisinger 60
$10
$8 – $64
Independent Health 51
$14
$6 – $17
Medicaid 330
$15
$4 – $33
Amerigroup 161
$17
$8 – $42
UnitedHealthcare 1423
$17
$12 – $73
Tricare / VA 418
$17
$15 – $73
MVP Health Care 79
$17
$8 – $60
Medicare 517
$17
$16 – $34
Highmark 121
$17
$11 – $40
Devoted Health 246
$17
$17 – $19
AmeriHealth 242
$17
$6 – $60
Molina Healthcare 533
$17
$4 – $44
Univera 13
$17
$5 – $24
UPMC Health Plan 96
$17
$8 – $68
Centene / Ambetter 777
$18
$14 – $94
Humana 1007
$18
$16 – $149
Anthem 562
$19
$14 – $86
Bright Health 61
$20
$17 – $35
EmblemHealth 73
$21
$4 – $59
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 133
$23
$20 – $100
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1193
$24
$14 – $97
Oscar Health 227
$28
$17 – $65
Kaiser Permanente 214
$30
$14 – $96
Aetna 1322
$31
$16 – $119
Priority Health 49
$33
$12 – $78
UCare 67
$33
$17 – $87
SelectHealth 45
$34
$17 – $90
Cigna 1100
$36
$16 – $115
Harvard Pilgrim 51
$41
$17 – $80
Medica 190
$41
$17 – $124
Health Net 287
$41
$17 – $193
Sanford Health Plan 71
$48
$26 – $93
HealthPartners 235
$49
$17 – $139
Security Health Plan 53
$61
$17 – $94
Coventry 146
$62
$17 – $146
MultiPlan / PHCS network 769
$74
$26 – $204
Healthcare Highways 45
$95
$33 – $258
AvMed 41
$101
$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$17
New Jersey$19
Rhode Island$22
Louisiana$30
Kentucky$34
Mississippi$35

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.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Victor Fariwa, MDInternal MedicineBrooklyn, NY840
Pedro Mcdougal, M.D. F.A.C.P.Internal MedicineWeslaco, TX519
Browlyn Marquez, NP-CNurse PractitionerEast Brunswick, NJ476
Medhat Grace, M.D.Family PracticeBowling Green, KY454
Michael Ladinsky, D.O.Family PracticeEast Islip, NY407
Farouk Raquib, MDFamily PracticeWinfield, AL383
Abdolreza Rabiee, MDEmergency MedicineLexington, KY378
Nather Ansari, M.D.Internal MedicineStafford, VA360
Gregg Nicks, M.D.Family PracticeBowling Green, KY328
Zeinab Arafat, AG-ACNPNurse PractitionerPalm Beach Gardens, FL328
Tosha WilsonNurse PractitionerAda, OK306
Mark Kot, M.D.Emergency MedicineSouthampton, NY285

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Strep throat test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Strep throat 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 2105 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $59, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $99, 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 2105 US hospitals is $59. Most hospitals fall between $19 and $141. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Strep throat 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 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.

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