C-reactive protein (CRP) Cost by Hospital

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2295 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$53median cash price · 2295 hospitals, 52 statestypically $15–$150 depending on the hospital
≈ 10.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$90
Cash / self-pay
$53
Insurer-negotiated
$12
Medicare pays
$5
$15$150
Median cash $53  ·  Medicare $5  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $53 — about 10.3× the Medicare rate ($5). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($10).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $90 list price could save about $37 (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
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $8 $5 ★ 3/5 252 min —
St Elizabeth Community Hospital Red Bluff, CA $8 $8 ★ 4/5 133 min —
Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA $8 $5 ★ 4/5 194 min —
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA $8 $5 ★ 5/5 186 min —
Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla, CA $8 $5 ★ 5/5 — —
Scripps Memorial Hospital-Encinitas Encinitas, CA $8 $5 ★ 4/5 200 min —
Jennie Stuart Medical Center Hopkinsville, KY $8 $19 ★ 1/5 167 min —
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Shreveport, LA $8 $5 ★ 2/5 247 min —
Dunes Surgical Hospital Dakota Dunes, SD $8 $16 — — —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $8 $4 ★ 4/5 298 min —
Page Hospital Page, AZ $8 $9 — 78 min —
St Josephs Area Health Services Park Rapids, MN $9 $14 ★ 3/5 151 min —
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus Raleigh, NC $9 $11 ★ 4/5 204 min —
Wakemed, Cary Hospital Cary, NC $9 $10 ★ 5/5 196 min —
St Joseph Hospital Bangor, ME $9 $6 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA $9 $6 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Hancock County Hospital Sneedville, TN $9 $28 — 104 min —
Dickenson Community Hospital Clintwood, VA $9 $12 — 109 min —
Lee County Community Hospital Pennington Gap, VA $9 $9 — 109 min —
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $9 $7 ★ 3/5 124 min —
University of California Davis Medical Center Sacramento, CA $9 $8 ★ 4/5 328 min —
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital Nacogdoches, TX $9 $18 ★ 2/5 174 min —
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $9 $6 ★ 2/5 293 min —
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $9 $6 — 190 min —
Johnson Memorial Hospital Franklin, IN $9 $7 ★ 5/5 139 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 C-reactive protein (CRP)

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: $53; Medicare pays $5.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Tricare / VA 458
$5
$5 – $50
Medicare 600
$5
$5 – $38
Medicaid 378
$5
$4 – $50
Geisinger 67
$5
$4 – $41
Independent Health 51
$5
$5 – $8
Univera 16
$5
$4 – $8
Highmark 128
$5
$3 – $31
Amerigroup 181
$5
$4 – $27
UnitedHealthcare 1615
$5
$4 – $87
Devoted Health 259
$5
$5 – $6
Molina Healthcare 598
$6
$5 – $41
Bright Health 66
$6
$5 – $10
Centene / Ambetter 866
$6
$5 – $48
MVP Health Care 83
$6
$5 – $59
AmeriHealth 252
$6
$4 – $41
Humana 1111
$7
$5 – $69
EmblemHealth 76
$8
$4 – $68
UPMC Health Plan 102
$8
$4 – $36
Oscar Health 232
$9
$5 – $39
Anthem 634
$9
$4 – $64
Kaiser Permanente 232
$10
$5 – $101
SelectHealth 48
$12
$5 – $95
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1371
$12
$5 – $88
UCare 66
$12
$5 – $74
Health Net 317
$12
$5 – $191
Priority Health 59
$14
$4 – $51
Aetna 1487
$16
$5 – $114
Harvard Pilgrim 57
$17
$5 – $65
Cigna 1258
$19
$5 – $117
Medica 244
$29
$5 – $105
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 153
$30
$9 – $184
Security Health Plan 54
$32
$5 – $79
AvMed 63
$32
$6 – $241
HealthPartners 275
$36
$5 – $100
Sanford Health Plan 72
$37
$5 – $97
Coventry 171
$43
$5 – $170
MultiPlan / PHCS network 907
$60
$11 – $227
Healthcare Highways 51
$92
$16 – $208

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$8
Tennessee$17
Mississippi$20
Puerto Rico$24
Arkansas$28
Michigan$32

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
Michael Joseph, MDRheumatologyJoplin, MO4,418
Jyothi Mallepalli, MDRheumatologyMonroe, LA3,133
Russell Branum, MDRheumatologyFort Smith, AR2,849
Janet Schwartzenberg, MDRheumatologyAmarillo, TX2,042
Ashkan Lashkari, MDHematology-OncologyWest Hills, CA1,829
Omid Shaye, M.D.Hematology-OncologyWest Hills, CA1,780
Arash Horizon, M.D.RheumatologyLos Angeles, CA1,745
Yelena Sokolova, MDRheumatologyBrooklyn, NY1,693
Constantine Saadeh, M.D.RheumatologyAmarillo, TX1,686
Jordan Brodsky, M.D.RheumatologyHewlett, NY1,641
Kevin Kempf, MDRheumatologySan Antonio, TX1,464
Jacob Aelion, M.D.RheumatologyJackson, TN1,441

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover C-reactive protein (CRP)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers C-reactive protein (CRP). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $5. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $1 — 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 2295 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $53, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $90, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $12, a Medicare rate of about $5. Most cash prices fall between $15 and $150 — 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 C-reactive protein (CRP) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2295 US hospitals is $53. Most hospitals fall between $15 and $150. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover C-reactive protein (CRP)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $5). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for C-reactive protein (CRP)?
Medicare pays about $5. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do C-reactive protein (CRP) 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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