Allergy test is a common practice in the healthcare field. It is also the 6th leading cause of long-term illness in the USA. These test helps in identifying which substances (allergens) are making your immune system overreact. Allergy can occur due to multiple causes, such as interaction with certain things in the environment, such as mold, bee stings, latex, pollen, or pet dander. Food allergies are also common in the new generation, which are caused by the consumption of milk, soy, or any dry fruits, especially peanuts. These allergy tests assist healthcare professionals in understanding the bigger problem growing within you.
Sometimes, these allergy tests cost a lot, depending on which hospital, city, or country you are in and what type of allergy test you are getting. Primarily, any sort of allergy blood test can cost between $200 to $1,000, and skin allergy test costs can range between $60 to $300. Additionally, how much your health insurance can cover changes the actual cost of any allergy test. Let’s find out more about how much is an allergy test and what factors influence its price.
How Much Does Allergy Testing Cost?
You can keep an estimated cost range from $300 to $500. There are multiple variables that can increase and decrease the cost of any sort of allergy test. Some of these factors are:
- The type of test you take,
- How much your insurance plan covers,
- The contract your doctor has with your insurance company.
In most cases, allergy tests are covered by health insurance, but make sure to review with your insurance policies beforehand. Additionally, your city and the location of the hospital also matter. However, we can estimate how much an allergy test and what you can expect in your hospital bill.
Cost of Different Allergy Tests
Any sort of allergy test and their cost difference depends upon certain factors. Among these factors is your insurance status, which determines how much goes straight from your pocket and which part is covered by the health insurance. Other than this, the types of allergy tests also determine their costs. Here, you can have a rough cost estimate of different types of allergies:
| Celiac Disease Testing | $119 – $220 |
| Food Allergy Testing | $209 – $310 |
| Weed/Grass Allergy Test | $179 – $184 |
| Nut Allergy Testing | $149 – $155 |
| Seafood Allergy Test | $150 – $155 |
| Shellfish Allergy Test | $140 – $ 153 |
The Cost of Seeing a Provider
How much does your allergy test cost, or how much does a provider charge you depending upon your required sessions? A basic consultation fee can range from $150 to $300 per visit if insured. In the case of having health care insurance, there may be a $0 copay cost.
Cost of Treating Allergies
In case the results turn out to be positive, you will require allergy shots. There is a chance that the insurance covers half of that allergy cost if you don’t have one; the cost falls on you. It can be an expensive treatment, close to $10,000 per year.
Typical Costs
When we talk about how much is an allergy test, the health insurance factor plays a significant role. Here, we will discuss the typical cost of two separate situations:
Patients not Covered by Health Insurance
Those patients who are not covered by health insurance can bear the most costly allergy test. Any typical allergy test with consultation can cost ranging from $150 to $300 if the health insurance company does not cover the patient. A common skin prick test can cost $60 to $300 ($3 to $5 per allergen) and a RAST test from $200 to $1,000 ($10 to $20 per allergen).
Patients with Health Insurance
The biggest factor that changes your out-of-pocket cost is how much your particular insurance plan covers and what contract your doctor has with your insurance company. Some insurance plans involve a copay for the doctor’s visit, too. Some health insurance has a standard plan of $20 for a family doctor, $35 for a specialist, and a $35 copay for testing. Check with your health insurance policies and calculate your deductibles before taking any allergy test.
Bottom Line
Allergy test helps us identify allergy triggers and assist healthcare professionals in creating a personalized treatment plan to get you lifelong relief. However, without health insurance plans, these allergy tests can be costly, depending upon which specific ones you want. The cost of an allergy test depends upon different factors involving where you are getting tested, which type of test you are getting, and your insurance update.
