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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Cholesterol Test Cost in Massachusetts (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a cholesterol test cost in Massachusetts?

You could pay $34 or $105 for the same cholesterol test in Massachusetts - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 63 reporting hospitals is $57. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

Three low-priced facilities in Massachusetts, from hospital price files

  • Boston Medical Center South $22
  • Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington · Burlington, MA $22
  • Northeast Hospital Corporation · Beverly, MA $22

All 63 facilities are listed below, free.

Where cholesterol test costs vary in Massachusetts

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

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 Massachusetts

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($57)
1 Boston Medical Center South MA $22 $35 below
2 Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington Burlington, MA $22 $35 below
3 Northeast Hospital Corporation Beverly, MA $22 $35 below
4 Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham Needham, MA $24 $33 below
5 Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Plymouth Plymouth, MA $24 $33 below
6 Boston Medical Center Brighton MA $25 $32 below
7 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA $25 $32 below
8 Lowell General Hospital Lowell, MA $35 $22 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

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. 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

  • Boston Medical Center South is the lowest-cost option at $22 - $35 below the median posted price ($57), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $57, 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.
Cholesterol test prices by coverage in Massachusetts, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
With insurance (commercial, average)47$20 to $163$34
Without insurance (cash price)74$13 to $233$57
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts34$21 to $58$33
UnitedHealthcare32$13 to $194$15
Cigna24$18 to $199$35
Aetna23$22 to $195$71

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 Massachusetts?

Across 47 Massachusetts hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for cholesterol test average $20 to $163 per hospital, with a median near $34. 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 Massachusetts?

Cash (self-pay) prices for cholesterol test at 74 Massachusetts hospitals range from $13 to $233, with a median of $57. 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 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 34 Massachusetts hospitals range from $21 to $58, with a median near $33. 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 Massachusetts?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 32 Massachusetts hospitals range from $13 to $194, with a median near $15. 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 Cigna in Massachusetts?

Cigna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 24 Massachusetts hospitals range from $18 to $199, with a median near $35. 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 much does a cholesterol test cost with Aetna in Massachusetts?

Aetna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 23 Massachusetts hospitals range from $22 to $195, with a median near $71. 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 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.

Hospital Outpatient
$7–$233
  • Facility fee $7–$233

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$7–$233
  • Facility fee $7–$233

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Massachusetts has the highest commercial hospital reimbursement rates in the country, driven by extreme labor costs, the dominance of Mass General Brigham (Partners HealthCare), and a regulatory environment that has struggled to contain negotiated rate growth. The state has enacted multiple price transparency and rate growth laws aimed at curbing this pattern. Self-pay cash discounts in Massachusetts tend to be proportionally larger than in other high-cost states.

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

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $60 versus $57 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$57
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$11
Out-of-network provider $125+

Frequently asked questions: cholesterol test costs in Massachusetts

How much does a cholesterol test cost in Massachusetts?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $13, with most facilities between $13 and $25 (based on 63 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Massachusetts hospitals run $13–$233; 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 Massachusetts?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Massachusetts data is Boston Medical Center South at about $22. By metro, Boston has the lowest median ($30).

Why is a cholesterol test so much cheaper at some Massachusetts hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 1.9× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Massachusetts, the median cash (self-pay) price is $57 versus a median negotiated rate of $34 - about 1.7× 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 Massachusetts?

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

Other procedures in Massachusetts

Cholesterol Test, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in Massachusetts

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Imaging and scans

Heart and cardiac tests

Sleep and breathing tests

Scopes and screening

Bone, joint and pain

General surgery

Ear, nose and throat

Urology and women's health

Eye care

Infusions

Emergency care

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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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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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