Doctor ordered lab work? Do this before you go.
The best time to find out what a lab test will cost is before the needle. Pick the situation you’re in.
You have the order, and you haven’t gone yet
This is the best spot to be in. You have time to check, and it takes a few minutes.
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Find the codes on your order
Look for two kinds of codes. A test code is a 5-digit number next to each test, like 82306. A diagnosis code is a letter followed by numbers, like E55.9. It says why the doctor ordered the test.
Can’t find them? Call your doctor’s office and say: “Can you give me the CPT codes and the diagnosis codes on my lab order?” They have them.
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Look up your test
Find your test in our list. Each page tells you whether Medicare covers it, what Medicare pays, and what it costs to buy directly.
Not on the list, or not sure? Send us your codes and your state. A real person looks it up and answers within 24 hours, free. No name and no Medicare number needed.
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If Medicare covers it, you pay $0
Medicare pays 100% for covered lab tests. No deductible, no coinsurance. Go get your blood drawn. One thing to check first: many tests are only covered so often. See the chart of how often Medicare pays. And check whether your test needs you to fast beforehand.
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If it isn’t covered, or you’re not sure, you have two moves
Talk to your doctor. Ask: “Is there a diagnosis that accurately describes my situation on Medicare’s covered list?” (Never ask anyone to change a code just to get coverage — that’s fraud. But doctors often have a legitimate reason for the test that simply wasn’t coded.)
Compare the direct price. You are allowed to buy most lab tests yourself, often for a fraction of what the lab bills. See where to buy direct below.
You’re already at the lab, and they want a signature
That form or signature pad is called an ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice). It means the lab thinks Medicare may not pay. Signing it means you agree to pay if Medicare doesn’t. You don’t have to sign on the spot.
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Ask for the price in writing
Say: “Can you print what I’ll owe if Medicare doesn’t pay?” The ABN form has a box for the estimated cost, and you are entitled to a copy of what you sign. If they only show you a signature pad, ask for the paper form.
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Step out of line and look it up
Take two minutes. Find your test here and compare the number they gave you with what Medicare pays and the direct price.
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Know your three choices on the form
The ABN gives you three options. You pick one.
- Option 1: Get the test and have Medicare billed. If Medicare says no, you pay, but you can appeal. If Medicare pays, the lab refunds you.
- Option 2: Get the test, pay for it yourself, and Medicare is not billed. You can’t appeal.
- Option 3: Don’t get the test today. You owe nothing. You can check your coverage, talk to your doctor, and come back.
Option 3 is always allowed. Nobody can make you take a test you haven’t agreed to pay for.
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Tell us what they quoted you
It takes a minute, and it helps the next person. See how below.
Where to buy a lab test directly
These companies sell the same tests, run at the same certified labs, without going through insurance. Each one adds a different fee, so compare the total, not the headline price. Every one of our test pages shows the all-in total for that test.
| Where | Added fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ulta Lab Tests Partner link — we earn a commission if you order. No extra cost to you. | $12.95once per order | Blood drawn at Quest locations |
| Jason Healthjasonhealth.com | $18once per order | Often the lowest test prices |
| Questquesthealth.com | $6physician service fee | Quest’s own consumer site |
| Labcorp OnDemandondemand.labcorp.com | — | Labcorp’s own consumer site |
Fees checked September 2026. Before you buy direct, know three things: you pay the full price yourself and Medicare will not pay you back; the results come to you, so bring them to your doctor; and direct lab sales are not offered in every state, so check the company’s site first. If Medicare would cover your test, covered is always cheaper: it’s $0.
Help the next person: tell us what you were quoted
Labs rarely publish what they charge when Medicare says no. We’re building a public record of real quotes, so nobody has to guess. Yours helps.
Just five facts: the test, the lab company, your state, the price, and the month.
Please don’t send the form itself. ABN forms carry your name and Medicare number, and we don’t want either one. We never collect them.