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

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

What does a cholesterol test cost in Montana?

Where you have a cholesterol test done in Montana swings the bill from $26 to $80 for identical care. The median cash price across 47 reporting hospitals is $61. 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 Montana, from hospital price files

  • Logan Health - Chester · Chester, MT $16
  • Providence St Joseph Medical Center · Polson, MT $16
  • Rosebud Community Hospital, Inc $20

All 47 facilities are listed below, free.

Where cholesterol test costs vary in Montana

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 Montana

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

# Facility City Price vs median ($61)
1 Logan Health - Chester Chester, MT $16 $45 below
2 Providence St Joseph Medical Center Polson, MT $16 $45 below
3 Rosebud Community Hospital, Inc MT $20 $41 below
4 GRANITE COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT MT $22 $39 below
5 St Luke Community Hospital and Nursing Home Ronan, MT $25 $36 below
6 Logan Health - Whitefish Whitefish, MT $26 $35 below
7 Stillwater Billings Clinic Columbus, MT $26 $35 below
8 Garfield County Health Center MT $27 $34 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

  • Logan Health - Chester is the lowest-cost option at $16 - $45 below the median posted price ($61), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $61, 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 Montana, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
With insurance (commercial, average)26$18 to $158$33
Without insurance (cash price)47$13 to $154$61
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana22$23 to $167$43
Cigna10$17 to $171$71
UnitedHealthcare9$18 to $190$87
Aetna4$41 to $175$130

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 Montana?

Across 26 Montana hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for cholesterol test average $18 to $158 per hospital, with a median near $33. 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 Montana?

Cash (self-pay) prices for cholesterol test at 47 Montana hospitals range from $13 to $154, with a median of $61. 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 and Blue Shield of Montana?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 22 Montana hospitals range from $23 to $167, with a median near $43. 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 Cigna in Montana?

Cigna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 10 Montana hospitals range from $17 to $171, with a median near $71. 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 UnitedHealthcare in Montana?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 9 Montana hospitals range from $18 to $190, with a median near $87. 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 Montana?

Aetna negotiated rates for cholesterol test at 4 Montana hospitals range from $41 to $175, with a median near $130. 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
$8–$186
  • Facility fee $8–$186

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$8–$186
  • Facility fee $8–$186

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) and RiverStone Health cover most of Montana's population. The state's vast geography means most residents have little or no practical alternative to their nearest facility, effectively eliminating competitive pricing pressure outside Billings and Missoula. Critical access hospitals are widespread and use cost-based reimbursement for Medicare.

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 $62 versus $65 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 ~$61
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$12
Out-of-network provider $134+

Frequently asked questions: cholesterol test costs in Montana

How much does a cholesterol test cost in Montana?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $13, with most facilities between $12 and $26 (based on 43 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Montana hospitals run $13–$154; 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 Montana?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Montana data is Logan Health - Chester in Chester at about $16. By metro, Great Falls has the lowest median ($42).

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

Typical prices vary about 2.2× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Montana, the median cash (self-pay) price is $61 versus a median negotiated rate of $33 - about 1.8× 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 Montana?

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 Montana

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 Montana

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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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