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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 Copays 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 copays. 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 copay, 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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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Pap IG, HPV-hr
Amount: $339.00
Posted by: A Boschen in Orlando, FL.Posted: September 12th, 2008 10:09PM
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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Pap IG and HPV hr
Amount: $339.00
Posted by: Jan Becker in Red Bluff, CA.Posted: October 3rd, 2008 01:10PM
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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price
Amount: $339.00
Posted by: j in Homewood, IL.Posted: January 9th, 2009 12:01PM
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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Pap test
Amount: $238.00
Posted by: Aeon in Lewes, DE.Posted: January 11th, 2009 08:01AM
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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Pap, HPV, Ct-Ng
Amount: $544.00
Posted by: a user in West Palm Beach, FL.Posted: January 27th, 2009 07:01AM
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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Lab Fee for Pap Test
Amount: $544.00
Posted by: JB Indiana in Fowler, IN.Posted: November 19th, 2009 06:11PM
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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Yearly Test include Pap test and Lab cost
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: DT in Greensboro, NC.Posted: January 24th, 2010 07:01PM
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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well woman exam
Amount: $415.00
Posted by: LH in Dayton Texas in Dayton, TX.Posted: February 19th, 2010 04:02AM
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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pap IG, ct-Ng.rfx HPV
Amount: $341.00
Posted by: J J in San Francisco, CA.Posted: March 12th, 2010 10:03PM
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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How rediculous is this cost?
Amount: $759.00
Posted by: outraged in California in santa barbara, CA.Posted: May 5th, 2010 01:05PM
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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A simple pap smear
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: A.H. in Los Angeles, CA.Posted: May 18th, 2010 12:05PM
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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Annual Exam For a Perfectly Healthy Woman
Amount: $629.00
Posted by: Jey in Catskill, NY.Posted: May 29th, 2010 08:05AM
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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Pap Smear
Amount: $360.00
Posted by: Regina Cane in Fresno, CA.Posted: June 7th, 2010 10:06AM
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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OBGYN
Amount: $308.65
Posted by: kasarah fichter in newcastle, PA.Posted: June 19th, 2010 11:06AM
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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HOMELAND HEALTH CARE
Amount: $60.00
Posted by: angry about the disrespect in Waco Temple Killeen, TX.Posted: July 14th, 2010 12:07PM
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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Pap IG, Ct-Ng, HPV-hr
Amount: $256.92
Posted by: JLJ in Eunice, LA.Posted: December 11th, 2010 01:12PM
Clinic or Doctor: Savoy Family CareInsurance Carrier: Blue Shield Louisiana
I paid Savoy Family Care Clinic $155 for a nurse practitioner to do a Pap Smear. I had previously had an abnormal test. Today, I got a bill from LabCorp for $256.92 (down from $305 after a $21.02 adjustment, and my Walmart insurance paid $27.06). I'll most likely be paying this in installments.
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Outrageous Cost of Pap Smear
Amount: $980.00
Posted by: Morgana in San Jose, CA.Posted: December 27th, 2010 02:12PM
Clinic or Doctor: Martha Medlicott NPInsurance Carrier: Kaiser
Type of Policy: 3500 Deductible
I went to Kaiser for a simple pap smear and spent 15 minutes with the Nurse Practitioner who did nothing but give me nice talk and a 15 second pap smear. When I received a $980 bill in the mail I about fell over backwards. She had ordered tests I have never even heard of. I have spoken with several doctors recently who said she never should have ordered those tests unless she had a reason to do so. She had none. I am currently fighting this outrageous bill. No wonder the Health Care system is so messed up in this country. On top of a $980 bill you are still paying your monthly cost of $300+...I choose to go without insurance and take my chances.
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Not too pricey but still cannot afford it
Amount: $160.00
Posted by: a user in Lancaster, PA.Posted: December 28th, 2010 05:12PM
Clinic or Doctor: Lancaster, PAInsurance Carrier: United Healthcare
Type of Policy: Minimum College Coverage
I had one pap before getting married from some random doctor I had never met just to get birth control. They charged me $200 for the visit but $135 of it was covered and then they sent me a $95 bill in a month for the lab tests. I was never sexually active and I knew I was fine so I never even called back for the results. I still paid the $95 fee just to get it over with (I was in the midst of wedding plans and moving to a new area for goodness sake).We were making below poverty level pay then so $160 for the whole thing was like $1000 dollars to my fiance and I at the time. My husband and I have no insurance now because we cannot afford it on a regular basis. I switched my info. to the doc I go to now. I had gone to her b4 just for physicals but I do not call her "my doctor". I want to go to a gyno but with no insurance I assume this could only be more pricey. I HAVE to have birth control as a married woman in my late 20's with no money to afford a child. So ridiculous
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Ridiculous
Amount: $485.00
Posted by: Bec in Auburn, IN.Posted: January 12th, 2011 07:01AM
Clinic or Doctor: Armstrong Family MedicineInsurance Carrier: N/A
Type of Policy: N/A
I almost cried when I got the bill for my pap smear. A friend told me that her pap smear cost her around $80. Something you can get done cheaply at a local clinic has been distorted into something that only the wealthy can afford and I am INFURIATED. The division of this cost is as follows:
Liquid Based W Focal Poi--$76
Chlamydia--$98
Gonorrhoea--$98
Herpes--$210

Now I know these are routine (Well, I don't know but I assume) but I haven't been sexually active at all since my last pap smear, so I am basically paying $500 for them to tell me what I already know.
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Affordable
Amount: $150.00
Posted by: CS in Springfield, VA.Posted: January 20th, 2011 02:01PM
Clinic or Doctor: CosmosMDInsurance Carrier: NONE
I had a Well Woman Exam which actually included the actual physical exam, with breast and pelvic exam. The doctor was very thorough. I called this office and let them know that I don't have insurance,and their fees are very reasonable.
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Outrageous
Amount: $1,000.00
Posted by: a user in Fairbanks, AK.Posted: January 25th, 2011 12:01PM
Clinic or Doctor: Tanana Valley ClinicInsurance Carrier: Blue Cross
I scheduled my normal yearly PAP. I paid my office visit copay of $25.00. I then received a bill for roughly $400 for the Dr. Visit fees, I then later received a bill from the Hospital lab for $400 dollars, and just yesterday I received a bill from the Pathology office charging me another $200. I had to pay over $1000 for a basic PAP the physician was with me for less than 5 min! I don't understand why I can be billed by the physician for taking the sample, the lab for processing the sample and the pathologist for looking at the sample. All which took less than an hour for all three services!!!! Medical is outrageous in Alaska!
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I Feel Betrayed!
Amount: $480.00
Posted by: Nicole M in Saint Augustine, FL.Posted: February 6th, 2011 08:02PM
Clinic or Doctor: BioReferenceInsurance Carrier: None
Type of Policy: None
I am completely appauled by this. When I opened this bill I actually thought I was getting a receipt for the $40 I had already paid, not ANOTHER $225 bill! My doctor KNEW I was self-pay, and told me UPFRONT that her fee was $160 and the lab fee would be FORTY DOLLARS. So I sent in a $40 check immediately. Now I have a bill for $225 for lab fees. I have NO idea where my doctor got this "$40" figure from, because NOTHING on this invoice is even close to $40. I feel betrayed because my doctor said "I know your self pay and I want to tell you the fees up front so there are no surpises." Guess she didn't think that getting a $225 bill a month later would be a shock. This is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. I'm only 20 years old and make $1,000 a month. How in the world can doctors and labs expect AVERAGE WORKING PEOPLE to pay these bills ???
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Pap smear
Amount: $89.00
Posted by: Melissa Lewis in Dallas/Houston, TX.Posted: May 25th, 2011 12:05PM
Clinic or Doctor: Mi Doctor ClinicasInsurance Carrier: with or without Medicaid
For the month of June, Mi Doctor Clinics are supporting the fight against Cervical Cancer are offering the Pap Smear Test + Medical Consultation (self pay) at only $89.00.
With Medicaid at not cost. This are the contact numbers:
Toll free: 1.888.776.5252
Dallas:(972)607-9435
Houston: (713) 454-7068
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Don't Go To Scripps Medical in San Diego!
Amount: $1,000.00
Posted by: Jaye in Eastlake, CA.Posted: June 11th, 2011 10:06AM
Clinic or Doctor: Scripps EastlakeInsurance Carrier: HealthNet
Type of Policy: PPO 1500
So here is the ridiculous situation I am now dealing with. I went to get my annual PAP at Scripps Medical. I paid my co-pay and had the exam. About a month later I got a bill for $460 for lab tests. I immediately called because I don't recall authorizing $460 in lab tests but supposedly I had abnormal cells so they ran an expensive HPV test. I paid it because I thought I had no other option.

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I got another bill from them, this time for $564.00. I again called because over a year and a half later I thought this had been taken care of by my insurance. Come to find out, they were just lazy and billed me late (very late).

But here's the thing- they billed me for 3 things I know I didn't get while at this appointment and these three things were the most expensive. When I called to argue they said there was nothing they could do! I wrote a letter to the company complaining and accusing them of fraud (as advised when I called) and waited to hear back. I didn't. Instead I got a letter from a collections agency.

Finally, after all of this I decided to follow-up on my abnormal cells with a midwife who charged me only $75. She also ran an HPV test- which came back negative. She had it run twice just to be sure. Scripps claims my HPV test was positive which would not have been possible since this one came back negative such a short time later. I believe they billed me for that test (which was about $200) without actually running the test.

Scripps Medical in San Diego (Eastlake clinic) is very shady. I thought such a large medical provider wouldn't be but I guess not. From now on I will stick with my midwife who is fantastic and doesn't hide costs like these!
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Cash Pay
Amount: $177.00
Posted by: a user in Allen, TX.Posted: July 12th, 2011 03:07PM
At the office I work for for a PAP Smear it is $159.00 for the office visit, $8 for the urine dip, and $10 for the stool blood test. Plus what ever the charge from the lab is.

Personally I don't get PAP Smears. They are only 80% accurate and the FDA refuses to legalize the blood test that can detect more types of cancer in women here in the US. Plus other countries state PAP smear should start between 40 and 50 and then repeated every 5 years.
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You want to Charge me how much?
Amount: $1,145.00
Posted by: a user in Dickinson, .Posted: September 15th, 2011 01:09PM
Clinic or Doctor: Insurance Carrier: BlueCrossBlueShieldTX
Type of Policy: PPO
So that 1145.00 is just for the lab work. The insurance also paid for a $118.00 office visit. When I called to asked why the lab work cost so much the lady said don't worry your insurance will cover it at 100%. No wonder my premium is so expensive. I could have had this done at Planned Parenthood for $75.00
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annual visit and pap test
Amount: $626.00
Posted by: a user in brooklyn, NY.Posted: November 3rd, 2011 12:11PM
Clinic or Doctor: preferred health partnersInsurance Carrier: Empire BCBS
Type of Policy: Hospital
I was told by my provider representative that I would be covered for a once a year preventative gyno visit and mamo. So I made an appointment with Preferred Health. Knowing my finances are low, I went this route instead of Planned Parenthood @ $165 total visit & pap to a $626.00 visit using BCBS's false information. This charge is criminal.
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Rip off
Amount: $2,213.10
Posted by: JacqueLA in Covington, LA.Posted: January 14th, 2012 08:01PM
Clinic or Doctor: Dr. CresapInsurance Carrier: NONE
Type of Policy: CASH, self paid
Office visit, we paid up front and were told we wouldn\'t have any other bills... was $168.10. I was so shocked it was cheap compared to my last visit years ago. Then a month later get a bill in for $2045.00 from BioReference Laboratories. Apparently my Doctor thought I needed every single yeast culture test under the sun even though I was not at risk, nor did I request anything but a basic pap smear. My husband is refusing to pay and I am waiting for Monday so I can call up both offices and give them a taste of my mind. This is down right con-ing patients out of money. \r\n\r\nOh I\'d love to give the media this news...if this isn\'t fixed. Maybe people will see the problem with health care is prices are not listed upfront and the consumer/patient isn\'t given a choice. That\'s like me walking into a restaurant, walking out and getting a bill for 10 tables I never ordered for. But I\'m responsible? And this goes on our credit report. B.S.
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