C-reactive protein (CRP) is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2295 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
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%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare / VA | 458 |
$5 – $50 |
| Medicare | 600 |
$5 – $38 |
| Medicaid | 378 |
$4 – $50 |
| Geisinger | 67 |
$4 – $41 |
| Independent Health | 51 |
$5 – $8 |
| Univera | 16 |
$4 – $8 |
| Highmark | 128 |
$3 – $31 |
| Amerigroup | 181 |
$4 – $27 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1615 |
$4 – $87 |
| Devoted Health | 259 |
$5 – $6 |
| Molina Healthcare | 598 |
$5 – $41 |
| Bright Health | 66 |
$5 – $10 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 866 |
$5 – $48 |
| MVP Health Care | 83 |
$5 – $59 |
| AmeriHealth | 252 |
$4 – $41 |
| Humana | 1111 |
$5 – $69 |
| EmblemHealth | 76 |
$4 – $68 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 102 |
$4 – $36 |
| Oscar Health | 232 |
$5 – $39 |
| Anthem | 634 |
$4 – $64 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 232 |
$5 – $101 |
| SelectHealth | 48 |
$5 – $95 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1371 |
$5 – $88 |
| UCare | 66 |
$5 – $74 |
| Health Net | 317 |
$5 – $191 |
| Priority Health | 59 |
$4 – $51 |
| Aetna | 1487 |
$5 – $114 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 57 |
$5 – $65 |
| Cigna | 1258 |
$5 – $117 |
| Medica | 244 |
$5 – $105 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 153 |
$9 – $184 |
| Security Health Plan | 54 |
$5 – $79 |
| AvMed | 63 |
$6 – $241 |
| HealthPartners | 275 |
$5 – $100 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 72 |
$5 – $97 |
| Coventry | 171 |
$5 – $170 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 907 |
$11 – $227 |
| Healthcare Highways | 51 |
$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
| State | Median 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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Joseph, MD | Rheumatology | Joplin, MO | 4,418 |
| Jyothi Mallepalli, MD | Rheumatology | Monroe, LA | 3,133 |
| Russell Branum, MD | Rheumatology | Fort Smith, AR | 2,849 |
| Janet Schwartzenberg, MD | Rheumatology | Amarillo, TX | 2,042 |
| Ashkan Lashkari, MD | Hematology-Oncology | West Hills, CA | 1,829 |
| Omid Shaye, M.D. | Hematology-Oncology | West Hills, CA | 1,780 |
| Arash Horizon, M.D. | Rheumatology | Los Angeles, CA | 1,745 |
| Yelena Sokolova, MD | Rheumatology | Brooklyn, NY | 1,693 |
| Constantine Saadeh, M.D. | Rheumatology | Amarillo, TX | 1,686 |
| Jordan Brodsky, M.D. | Rheumatology | Hewlett, NY | 1,641 |
| Kevin Kempf, MD | Rheumatology | San Antonio, TX | 1,464 |
| Jacob Aelion, M.D. | Rheumatology | Jackson, TN | 1,441 |
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?
Does Medicare cover C-reactive protein (CRP)?
What does Medicare pay for C-reactive protein (CRP)?
Why do C-reactive protein (CRP) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Lab Tests
See more Lab Tests.