Cholesterol Test Cost in Iowa (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a cholesterol test cost in Iowa?
Where you have a cholesterol test done in Iowa swings the bill from $38 to $102 for identical care. The median cash price across 69 reporting hospitals is $68. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Iowa, from hospital price files
- WINNESHIEK MEDICAL CENTER $17
- Spencer Municipal Hospital · Spencer, IA $18
- Avera Holy Family Hospital · Estherville, IA $19
All 69 facilities are listed below, free.
Where cholesterol test costs vary in Iowa
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby outpatient clinics and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
26+ people checked prices near them this month.
What you pay for a cholesterol test depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Screening vs. diagnostic: Routine screening is covered at $0 under many plans, while a test ordered for a known condition may involve cost-sharing.
- ✓ Where the blood is tested: Hospital labs, independent labs and doctor-office labs charge very different prices for the same panel.
- ✓ Which bills usually arrive separately, and which providers to check are in-network
- ✓ The questions to ask before you schedule, so the estimate covers everything
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
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Cheapest Cholesterol Test Providers in Iowa
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs median ($68) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WINNESHIEK MEDICAL CENTER | IA | $17 | $51 below |
| 2 | Spencer Municipal Hospital | Spencer, IA | $18 | $50 below |
| 3 | Avera Holy Family Hospital | Estherville, IA | $19 | $49 below |
| 4 | ALEGENT HEALTH - MERCY HOSPITAL, CORNING IOWA | Corning, IA | $19 | $49 below |
| 5 | Avera Merrill Pioneer | Rock Rapids, IA | $20 | $48 below |
| 6 | CHI Health Missouri Valley | Missouri Valley, IA | $20 | $48 below |
| 7 | HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE | Harwarden, IA | $21 | $47 below |
| 8 | Pella Regional Health Center | Pella, IA | $22 | $46 below |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost → · When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →
Quick take
- WINNESHIEK MEDICAL CENTER is the lowest-cost option at $17 - $51 below the median posted price ($68), just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $68, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Independent and doctor-office labs often charge much less than hospital labs for the same test and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset. Ask where your plan sends lab work.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 41 | $13 to $121 | $44 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 69 | $17 to $168 | $68 |
| Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 11 | $13 to $63 | $40 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 25 | $13 to $129 | $68 |
| Aetna | 22 | $20 to $100 | $37 |
| Cigna | 11 | $37 to $68 | $53 |
Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.
How much does a cholesterol test cost with insurance in Iowa?
Across 41 Iowa hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for cholesterol test average $13 to $121 per hospital, with a median near $44. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.
Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.
How much does a cholesterol test cost without insurance in Iowa?
Cash (self-pay) prices for cholesterol test at 69 Iowa hospitals range from $17 to $168, with a median of $68. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.
Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.
How much does a cholesterol test cost with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa?
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 11 Iowa hospitals range from $13 to $63, with a median near $40. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.
Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.
How much does a cholesterol test cost with UnitedHealthcare in Iowa?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 25 Iowa hospitals range from $13 to $129, with a median near $68. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does a cholesterol test cost with Aetna in Iowa?
Aetna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 22 Iowa hospitals range from $20 to $100, with a median near $37. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does a cholesterol test cost with Cigna in Iowa?
Cigna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 11 Iowa hospitals range from $37 to $68, with a median near $53. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How where you go changes what you pay for cholesterol test
The same cholesterol test bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.
- Facility fee $9–$695
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $41–$286
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
Iowa's hospital market is dominated by UnityPoint Health and MercyOne (CommonSpirit), with relatively limited inter-system competition in most markets. Des Moines prices run below national averages, but facility fees at affiliated hospital systems can add substantially to the base service rates. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the primary academic referral center.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →
Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (5) report prices above $238, including Mercy Medical Center-Clinton Inc at $461, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $68 versus $110 inpatient (about 1.6× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.
None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$68 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$14 |
| Out-of-network provider | $150+ |
Frequently asked questions: cholesterol test costs in Iowa
How much does a cholesterol test cost in Iowa?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $13, with most facilities between $12 and $24 (based on 69 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Iowa hospitals run $17–$168; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a cholesterol test in Iowa?
Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Iowa data is WINNESHIEK MEDICAL CENTER at about $17. By metro, Dubuque has the lowest median ($38).
Why is a cholesterol test so much cheaper at some Iowa hospitals?
Typical prices vary about 2× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Iowa, the median cash (self-pay) price is $68 versus a median negotiated rate of $44 - about 1.5× higher. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.
How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a cholesterol test in Iowa?
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.
Before you book
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read your medical bill
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Iowa
Cholesterol Test, elsewhere
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
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About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
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