LDL cholesterol test Cost by Hospital

LDL cholesterol test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2231 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$49median cash price · 2231 hospitals, 52 statestypically $15–$124 depending on the hospital
≈ 4.7× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$86
Cash / self-pay
$49
Insurer-negotiated
$17
Medicare pays
$11
$15$124
Median cash $49  ·  Medicare $11  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $49 — about 4.7× the Medicare rate ($11). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($21).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $86 list price could save about $37 (43%).

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
Banner North Colorado Medical Center Greeley, CO $7 $26 ★ 4/5 137 min —
Banner North Co Medical Center-Loveland Campus Loveland, CO $7 $26 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Grove City Medical Center Grove City, PA $7 $11 ★ 4/5 150 min —
Kingman Healthcare Center Kingman, KS $8 $7 — 97 min —
Bsa Hospital Amarillo, TX $8 $53 ★ 2/5 215 min —
Allegheny Valley Hospital Natrona, PA $8 $11 ★ 4/5 203 min —
Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $8 $11 ★ 3/5 274 min —
Deckerville Community Hospital Deckerville, MI $8 $15 — 85 min —
University of Michigan Health-West Wyoming, MI $8 — ★ 4/5 188 min —
Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital Tulsa, OK $8 $8 — 191 min —
Ahn Wexford Hospital Wexford, PA $8 $11 ★ 5/5 184 min —
Aultman Hospital Canton, OH $9 $11 ★ 4/5 220 min —
Aultman Orrville Hospital Orrville, OH $9 $11 — 119 min —
West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $9 $11 ★ 3/5 208 min —
St Michael's Hospital-CAH Tyndall, SD $9 $8 — 112 min —
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield, CA $9 $12 ★ 3/5 240 min —
Memorial Hospital and Manor Bainbridge, GA $9 $11 ★ 1/5 162 min —
McCurtain Memorial Hospital Idabel, OK $10 $4 ★ 4/5 84 min —
University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX $10 $11 ★ 3/5 240 min —
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $10 $8 — 72 min —
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $10 $19 — — —
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $10 $11 ★ 3/5 155 min —
Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA $10 $11 ★ 3/5 188 min —
Saint Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA $10 $11 ★ 3/5 238 min —
Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA $10 $11 ★ 3/5 134 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 LDL 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: $49; Medicare pays $11.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Amerigroup 173
$11
$7 – $29
UnitedHealthcare 1512
$11
$9 – $76
Tricare / VA 440
$11
$10 – $69
Medicare 549
$11
$10 – $31
Medicaid 334
$11
$7 – $42
Devoted Health 251
$11
$11 – $13
Independent Health 50
$11
$9 – $11
Highmark 125
$11
$7 – $40
Univera 16
$11
$9 – $16
Molina Healthcare 526
$11
$6 – $35
Centene / Ambetter 818
$12
$9 – $51
MVP Health Care 77
$12
$9 – $90
AmeriHealth 245
$12
$10 – $42
Bright Health 62
$12
$11 – $21
Kaiser Permanente 219
$13
$7 – $81
EmblemHealth 71
$14
$9 – $58
UPMC Health Plan 102
$15
$10 – $50
Health Net 260
$15
$6 – $136
Geisinger 69
$17
$11 – $47
Anthem 594
$17
$8 – $66
Oscar Health 225
$17
$11 – $35
Humana 1048
$17
$10 – $106
AvMed 45
$19
$6 – $148
UCare 63
$20
$10 – $74
SelectHealth 43
$20
$11 – $61
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1261
$21
$10 – $98
Aetna 1385
$22
$10 – $97
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 132
$25
$11 – $193
Medica 219
$26
$11 – $102
Priority Health 52
$27
$6 – $69
Cigna 1171
$31
$9 – $109
HealthPartners 245
$33
$11 – $101
Harvard Pilgrim 54
$38
$11 – $92
Coventry 156
$40
$10 – $117
Sanford Health Plan 69
$44
$14 – $111
Security Health Plan 49
$45
$11 – $62
Healthcare Highways 31
$54
$20 – $80
MultiPlan / PHCS network 773
$59
$17 – $139

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$12
Arizona$17
Alabama$26
Tennessee$29
New York$29
Idaho$29

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
Eric Weiner, MDInternal MedicineBoynton Beach, FL2,491
Todd Halper, M.D.Family PracticeRockville Centre, NY1,829
Rajesh Desai, MDEndocrinologyMelbourne, FL1,537
William Biggs, M.D.EndocrinologyAmarillo, TX1,483
Stephen Corday, M.D.CardiologyLos Angeles, CA1,387
Russell Dambra, MDEndocrinologyNew Hyde Park, NY1,383
John Hill, MDFamily PracticeDeland, FL1,307
Barbara Hirsch, MDEndocrinologyManhasset, NY1,297
Alan Keister, M.D.Internal MedicineAmarillo, TX1,028
Kenneth Hershon, MDEndocrinologyNew Hyde Park, NY1,019
Kenneth Lee, DOFamily PracticeOcala, FL987
Clara De Jesus Kalil, M.D.Family PracticeOcala, FL958

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover LDL cholesterol test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers LDL cholesterol test. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $11. 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 2231 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $49, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $86, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $17, a Medicare rate of about $11. Most cash prices fall between $15 and $124 — 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 LDL cholesterol test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2231 US hospitals is $49. Most hospitals fall between $15 and $124. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover LDL cholesterol test?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $11). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for LDL cholesterol test?
Medicare pays about $11. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do LDL 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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