The Short Answer
- Independent and online labs: about $30 to $100 per test or panel, according to GoodRx.
- Hospital labs: much higher and very uneven. Florida hospitals list a complete blood count from $24 to $3,791 (MedicalPriceCheck, hospital price files, October 2026).
- What it really costs: Medicare pays $3.93 to $29.60 for common blood tests in 2026, plus $9.34 for the blood draw.
- Cheapest route: an independent or online lab with a posted cash price, not a hospital lab.
What Medicare Pays: Your Fair-Price Yardstick
Medicare publishes what it pays labs for every test. These 2026 national amounts are not what you will be charged, but they show what a test costs to run. If a cash quote is many times higher, look somewhere else.
| Test | CPT code | What it checks | Medicare 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential | 85025 | Red and white cells, platelets, infection, anemia | $7.77 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) | 80053 | Kidneys, liver, blood sugar, electrolytes | $10.56 |
| Basic metabolic panel (BMP) | 80048 | Kidneys, blood sugar, electrolytes | $8.46 |
| Lipid panel | 80061 | Cholesterol and triglycerides | $13.39 |
| Hemoglobin A1c | 83036 | Average blood sugar over about 3 months | $9.71 |
| TSH | 84443 | Thyroid function | $16.80 |
| Free T4 | 84439 | Thyroid hormone | $9.02 |
| Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) | 82306 | Vitamin D level | $29.60 |
| Vitamin B-12 | 82607 | B-12 level | $15.08 |
| Ferritin | 82728 | Iron stores | $13.63 |
| PSA, total | 84153 | Prostate screening | $18.39 |
| Hepatic function panel | 80076 | Liver | $8.17 |
| Prothrombin time (PT/INR) | 85610 | Blood clotting | $4.29 |
| HIV antigen and antibody | 87389 | HIV screening | $24.08 |
| Hepatitis C antibody | 86803 | Hepatitis C screening | $14.27 |
| Glucose | 82947 | Blood sugar right now | $3.93 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) | 36415 | The needle stick itself | $9.34 |
A common yearly panel (CBC, CMP, lipid panel and A1c) adds up to $41.43 at Medicare rates, or $50.77 with the blood draw. Rates come from the CMS 2026 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
Why Prices Vary So Much
Hospitals must post their prices online. Those files show huge gaps for the same test. MedicalPriceCheck's review of Florida hospitals found a complete blood count listed from $24 at the lowest to $3,791 at the highest, with a national average cash price of $136. Independent labs and online lab services usually charge a small fraction of hospital list prices.
| Where you go | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Online lab services (order online, draw at a local site) | Posted cash prices, often $30 to $100 per test or panel |
| Independent lab | Low prices for routine tests; ask for the self-pay price |
| Doctor's office | May draw in the office and send to a lab; ask who bills you |
| Community health center | Sliding-fee prices based on income. Check where you stand with our poverty level calculator |
| Hospital outpatient lab | Often the most expensive for routine tests |
Blood Work With Insurance
- Preventive screening: some tests, such as cholesterol and diabetes screening for certain adults, are covered at no cost when done as preventive care.
- Tests to check a symptom or condition count toward your deductible. Until you meet it, you pay the plan's negotiated rate.
- Stay in network: sending blood to an out-of-network lab can cost more. Ask your doctor to use an in-network lab.
- Work out your share with our coinsurance calculator.
How to Pay Less: 6 Steps
- Ask for the test names and CPT codes. You need them to compare prices.
- Check an online lab or independent lab for posted cash prices before you go.
- Ask whether the price includes the blood draw. The draw is often billed separately.
- Skip the hospital lab for routine tests unless your doctor needs results right away.
- Ask for a Good Faith Estimate if you are uninsured and the test is scheduled ahead. See our No Surprises Act guide.
- Ask about financial assistance if you must use a hospital. See our hospital charity care guide.
Related: X-ray cost without insurance and MRI cost without insurance.
Sources: CMS 2026 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (October 2026 file); MedicalPriceCheck, complete blood count (85025) hospital cash prices, Florida (data October 2026); GoodRx, "How Much Is Blood Work Without Insurance?"; HealthCare.gov preventive services. Prices are typical figures, not quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by Hassan Raza Awan, Founder — 4+ years of hands-on U.S. medical billing experience. General billing information — verify against current CMS guidance and your payer contracts.
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