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CostHelper.com > Health & Personal Care  > Pap Test

Pap Test Cost

How Much Does a Pap Test Cost?

low cost With Insurance Coverage: Sometimes co-pays or deductibles
low cost Without Insurance: $25-$75

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Pap tests, used to detect precancerous changes in the uterine cervix, are recommended every three years for women, starting three years after the first sexual intercourse or no later than age 21.
 
Typical costs:
  • For those not covered by health insurance, a conventional Pap test usually costs $25 to $40 and a liquid-based Pap test -- sometimes referred to by the brand name ThinPrep -- costs $45 to $60, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Many states require insurance companies to cover regular Pap tests. The National Women's Law Center offers a state-by-state chart.
  • For patients covered by insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically range from zero to the full fee, depending on the deductible and co-pays. A Medicare patient whose deductible has not been met would pay the full $75 fee at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. However, some insurance plans, such as this Aetna plan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Community Blue PPO plan, cover "wellness" screenings 100 percent, with no deductible or co-pay, usually with some restrictions.
What should be included:
  • Usually after performing a pelvic exam, the doctor or clinician uses a scraper or small brush to collect a sample of cervical cells.
  • In a conventional Pap test, the cells are placed on a slide and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
  • In the liquid-based Pap test, the collection device is rinsed into a vial containing a special solution, then sent to a laboratory. There it is filtered or centrifuged to separate out the cells, which are mechanically mixed to create a more uniform sample.
  • The liquid-based Pap test has been found to allow for slightly better diagnoses and fewer false negatives, so most tests in the United States are liquid-based, but the conventional test still is considered adequate as well. The National Cervical Cancer Coalition offers a comparison of the conventional test and the liquid-based test.
  • The National Cancer Institute offers a Q&A on Pap tests.
Additional costs:
  • About six percent of Pap tests show some abnormality that requires follow-up testing. Further testing can include another Pap test, testing for the human papillomavirus -- a common sexually transmitted virus, some strains of which can lead to cancer -- or an examination of the vagina with a microscope-like instrument or a biopsy.
  • Not all abnormal results mean cancer. The National Cancer Institute offers a guide to abnormal Pap test results.
Discounts:
Shopping for a pap test:
  • If you have health insurance, consult with your gynecologist or health clinic to schedule a pelvic exam and Pap test.
  • Otherwise, call your local health department. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers more resources for finding low-cost or free Pap tests.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
Article updated March 2008
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Recent Posts
Amount: $339.00 Pap IG, HPV-hr
Posted by: A Boschen in Orlando, FL.Purchased: September, 2008
Clinic or Doctor: LabCorpInsurance Carrier: self-pay
Type of Policy: n/a
charges seemed unusually high, I'm trying to find inforamtion to see if this is out of line with the norm. Very difficult to find cost comparison data on healthcare. I appreciate the few details this site offers.
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Amount: $339.00 Pap IG and HPV hr
Posted by: Jan Becker in Red Bluff, CA.Purchased: July, 2008
Clinic or Doctor: LabCorpInsurance Carrier: None
Type of Policy: N/A
This bill--sent 3 months later--came as quite a shock. I'm trying to find out how much the HPV hr test is. Internet sites keep referring to it as "an affordable alternative," but I've found no specific figures for comparison.
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Amount: $339.00 price
Posted by: j in Homewood, IL.Purchased: November, 2008
Clinic or Doctor: Nepomuceno AssociatesInsurance Carrier: Blue Cross
Type of Policy: PPO
My doctor charged me $339.00 just for the pap and another $145.00 for the office visit. My policy from Walmart only covers a max of 60 dollars for both combined leaving me an outragious balance. The pap was inconclusive also and I was told I had to pay. Why does it say the average is around 76 dollars?
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Amount: $238.00 Pap test
Posted by: Aeon in Lewes, DE.Purchased: July, 2007
Clinic or Doctor: Bayside Health, DEInsurance Carrier: self pay
I paid Bayside Health $238 on the day. I already thought this to be a high price but paid it. Then I receive an unexpected bill from labcorp saying to get my results I need to then pay them another 115! Holding my results to ransom. $353 is an outrageous amount to have to pay! Ladies, we are being probed and then ripped off! Double charged by two different companies! What is going on? It's scandalous.
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Amount: $544.00 Pap, HPV, Ct-Ng
Posted by: a user in West Palm Beach, FL.Purchased: January, 2009
Clinic or Doctor: LabCorpInsurance Carrier: No Insurance
Type of Policy: Uninsured
I too am completely shocked at the cost of the lab bill for my yearly pap. My doctor used LabCorp. In comparing the cost from my Oct.2006 lab expense, I paid $58 for the pap and $30 for the HPV and $30 for Ct-Ng compared to today's bill, 1/2009 for $544. When I called LabCorp they extended a discount to $460 if I paid today. I refused to pay any amount close to that, it can go to collections until they come close to the reasonable amount of $118.
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Amount: $544.00 Lab Fee for Pap Test
Posted by: JB Indiana in Fowler, IN.Purchased: November, 2009
Clinic or Doctor: Fowler ClinicInsurance Carrier: UHC
Type of Policy: PPO Network
I was shocked when I saw the lab for a simple PAP lab charged by Laboratory Corp of $544. Then UHC only paid $41.44 however their Policy says WELL WOMAN exams including Pap pays 100%. No wonder we need healthcare reform. This is all unreal. I don't see this as a reflection on my doctor.
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Amount: $0.00 Yearly Test include Pap test and Lab cost
Posted by: DT in Greensboro, NC.Purchased: 2009
Clinic or Doctor: Wendover OBGYNInsurance Carrier: none
The office visit was $138 (a discount since I don't have insurance and had to pay cash) and $75 for lab test, billed separately by lab.
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Amount: $415.00 well woman exam
Posted by: LH in Dayton Texas in Dayton, TX.Purchased: February, 2009
Clinic or Doctor: marshall family practice clinicInsurance Carrier: uninsured
I was floored when they told me $415.00, since I don't have insurance I had to pay it-it was for my 15 year old daughter. I told them I thought she had a UTI. Then a week later I received the lab fees from LabCorp those bills totaled $375.00 I refuse to pay this. I told them when I went in I did not have insurance, they said it would be $75.00 for the office visit. So basically I paid $300.00 for them to DO a "pap smear", it took less than an hour. I am furious, I want to know how ordinary people are suppose to pay for this?
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Amount: $341.00 pap IG, ct-Ng.rfx HPV
Posted by: J J in San Francisco, CA.Purchased: January, 2010
I did my Pap two months ago. I was so surprised when I got a $$341 bill from Labcorp. My insurance company only paid $93. I have to pay $327. I didn't pay anything when I did my Pap 2006. I thought my insurance will cover them all like before.
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Amount: $759.00 How rediculous is this cost?
Posted by: outraged in California in santa barbara, CA.Purchased: 2010
Clinic or Doctor: SansumInsurance Carrier: Anthem Blue Cross
Type of Policy: Individual PPO
I saw a nurse practitioner for 15 minutes to get a pap test. Got a bill from Sansum for $559.00 for visit and another bill from Medical Group Pathology for lab work $187. How is it that a 15 minute visit to a nurse practioner should cost almost $800.? My co pay was supposed to be $40. but my insurance only paid a portion of this and negotiated it down somewhat, but my out of pocket costs for a simple procedure is still well over $250.00 That even seems like more than it should cost even if I didn't have insurance! No wonder we need health care reform in this country. This seems like financial rape to me.
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Amount: $350.00 A simple pap smear
Posted by: A.H. in Los Angeles, CA.Purchased: April, 2010
Clinic or Doctor: EdmundInsurance Carrier: Anthem Blue Cross
Type of Policy: Individual PPO
There has to be a better way. How are we expected to have annual exams at this price?
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Amount: $629.00 Annual Exam For a Perfectly Healthy Woman
Posted by: Jey in Catskill, NY.Purchased: February, 2010
Clinic or Doctor: Mid WifeInsurance Carrier: None
Type of Policy: n/a
I am perfectly healthy, went for my annual and was told "not to worry about" the price after I told them I had no insurance. I guess "don't worry about it" means a $310 lab fee and a $319 doctor bill! I can't believe this, I cried when I got the second bill in the mail. Everything came out normal and i was there for about 15 minutes total. I have to pay $50 a month now.
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Amount: $360.00 Pap Smear
Posted by: Regina Cane in Fresno, CA.Purchased: February, 2010
Clinic or Doctor: Dr. Marshall NoelInsurance Carrier: Cash
Type of Policy: None
I got a routine pap smear. I paid $300.00 to the Dr. in cash for taking it then got a $60.00 bill for the lab. Yikes! The doctor spent all of 5 minutes with me for the $300.00 he charged. There must be more resonable doctors.
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Amount: $308.65 OBGYN
Posted by: kasarah fichter in newcastle, PA.Purchased: June, 2010
Clinic or Doctor: Nicole carolson MDInsurance Carrier: HOMELAND HEALTH CARE
Type of Policy: SILIVER
Well my insurence company seid my bill was like 800 dollers and that i was responsable for 308.65 the obgyn i have is amazing she is a really good obgyn but the bill i reseaved i dont think it should cost so much just for a Yearlly check up. Im calling her this monday 21 2010 to find out becuase i think this homeland health care is trying to get money out of me there horable u call there office people r just rude most of the time. But im trying to find out how much a regular yearlly check up to an obgyn cost., If there is any help please let me know.
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Amount: $0.00 costs
Posted by: pissedoffmedstudent in Richmond, VA.Purchased: 2010
Get the labor board involved.
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Amount: $60.00 HOMELAND HEALTH CARE
Posted by: angry about the disrespect in Waco Temple Killeen, TX.Purchased: 2010
Clinic or Doctor: clinic owned by a local hospitalInsurance Carrier: homeland healthcare part of aig, a&h
Type of Policy: limited benefit-horrible plan
I have homeland healthcare, it's the middle coverage offered by my employer, i think it's the silver plan.

homeland told me i would get preventive benefits covered, which should have covered six labs, three health screenings, and one doctor's visit. i rightfully should have received $425 in benefits paid out for all my labs, pap smears, and appointment--plus discounted rates on each test and the appointment itself. they broke my pap smear into three portions, total of $79 $15 and $21 before discounts or benefits paid out. i am now responsible for almost $60 for all three pap smears combined, but they need to pay out more benefits to me. i wrote them a letter of appeal and requested a receipt at the post office, so i got a signed paper when a&h limited received my paperwork. homeland healthcare is the devil. you're almost better off with no insurance at all. they did not pay benefits they promised me, and they use a terrible billing company, a&h. my advice when dealing with insurance companies is record every call on your computer or on a tape, so you can get exactly what you're promised!!! get your updated coverage/benefits on paper before you make your appointment. know your rights and hire a lawyer if you need to. take notes word for word when speaking to homeland and a&h!!! TAKE NAMES (and time and date of your call) and kick butt, because the insurance companies and doctor's offices don't care about you. i spent three and a half hours at the doctor's office and only saw the doctor for five or ten minutes. medical services are overpriced already, but know your rights, so the companies don't rob you blind, entirely.
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