Where to get blood work and what it costs when you have no insurance

Can I get blood work done with no insurance?

Yes, you can get blood work without insurance. Labs and doctor's offices accept payment from people who do not have insurance. You should learn the price before the blood draw, because lab prices can differ a lot from one place to the next. A short phone call can save you a surprising amount of money.

This page is general information and not medical advice. Please do not skip tests your doctor recommends. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

Common blood tests in plain words

Blood tests are sold in groups, often called panels. Here are some common ones in simple words. You and your doctor decide together whether you need any of them.

• A complete blood count, often called a CBC, counts your red cells, white cells and platelets. Doctors use it to look for signs of anemia, infection and other problems.
• A basic or full metabolic panel checks your blood sugar, your salt levels and how well your kidneys and liver are working.
• A lipid panel measures cholesterol and other fats in the blood. Doctors use it to look at heart health.
• A hemoglobin A1c shows your average blood sugar over the past few months. Doctors use it to check for diabetes and to follow it over time.
• A thyroid test checks how well your thyroid, a small gland in your neck, is working.
• A vitamin or iron test looks at the levels of certain nutrients in your blood.

Labs often bill each test separately, so extra tests add to the bill. If a doctor suggests several, ask which ones matter most and which ones could wait.

How do I get a test ordered?

In most cases, a licensed health professional has to order your blood work. You can see a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who orders the tests and sends them to a lab. You then go to the lab, or the office draws the blood itself.

Some labs and websites let you order certain tests without seeing a doctor first. This is called direct-to-consumer testing. The rules differ from state to state, and not every test is available everywhere. If you are interested, ask the lab what is allowed where you live. Someone should still explain the results to you, because a number on a page can be confusing or even scary without context.

If you already have a regular doctor, ask whether the office has a price list for labs. If you do not have a doctor, our directory of cash-pay doctors is a good place to start.

Where you can go and how the prices compare

We do not give dollar amounts on this page. We could not find a current national price source for labs that we can stand behind. We looked for one from a government agency, a research group or a health system. Prices also change a lot from one lab or region to the next. What we can do is show you where to look.

• A direct primary care practice may have lower cash prices for common tests, either because it uses certain labs or because it draws the blood in the office. Ask the office what it offers. Our guide on direct primary care explains the membership model. A direct primary care membership is not insurance, so it does not pay for the emergency room, a hospital stay or surgery.
• A community health center uses a sliding fee scale based on your income. Ask whether lab work is included in the visit fee or charged on its own. Our guide to community health centers has details.
• A large commercial lab often has a self-pay price, and some post their prices online. Call or check the website and ask for the cash price for your exact tests.
• A hospital lab has a published price list, which the law requires hospitals to post, and that list can help you compare. Hospital lab prices are often higher, so compare before you go.
• A free clinic or a health department may offer limited testing at little or no cost.

Our guide on how to ask for the cash price gives you a script you can use on the phone.

What to ask before your blood is drawn

1. What is the cash or self-pay price for each test I need? Ask for the test names or codes the doctor wrote down.
2. Is there a lower price if I pay at the time of service?
3. Does the price include the blood draw? Some places charge a separate fee for drawing blood.
4. Will I get a separate bill from a different company, such as a doctor who reads the results?
5. How long will the results take, and who will explain them to me?

Write down the answers and the name of the person who gave them. If the bill does not match what you were told, call back and ask them to fix it. For more help, read our guide on help paying medical bills.

Can the cheaper test cost more in the end?

It can, if the test is not the one your doctor needs. A cheap test that does not answer the question may have to be repeated. Tell your doctor that you are paying on your own, and ask which tests are the most useful for your situation. A doctor who knows your budget can help you choose wisely. Our list of questions to ask a doctor can help you start that talk.