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Natera test results may cost up to 9000% more than the expected price, according to consumers complaints on online forums.
On its billing guide, Natera says that average out of pocket testing expenses are less than $249 for consumers who have met their insurance deductible. In the case of high deductible plans where Natera estimates test costs over $249, the company promises to discuss cash pay options to resolve bills. The company also offers this option to patients whose insurance companies deny claims, though Natera claims to accept most regional and national healthcare plans such as Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
Unfortunately, according to customer recounts of billing experiences, Natera’s idealistic representations of testing costs is misleading.
The most recent complaint on Natera’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile claims that the testing company overcharged a customer by thousands of dollars. The reviewer claims they were initially quoted Natera test prices of between $150 and $200. However, after the customer received their Natera test results, the company allegedly billed their insurance for $14,792—9861% higher than the lowest quoted price.
On Yelp, countless other reviews tell the same story. Earlier this month, an Ohio reviewer posted their story after receiving Natera test results for genetic blood markers. According to the reviewer, the test ordered by his wife’s doctor was supposed to cost around $200. Instead, the couple’s insurance allegedly received a bill for $10,500—525% above the quoted price. Like reviews on the BBB website, this reviewer claims Natera uses excessive bills to “gouge unsuspecting patients” for hundreds of dollars.
Although negative Natera reviews date back years, the issue has only recently garnered public attention.
In August 2019, CBSN Dallas-Ft. Worth shared the experience of a Texas woman who claims Natera overcharged her for noninvasive prenatal testing. According to the woman, a nurse told her that the Natera test results would cost less than $200. Despite these promises, the woman’s insurance allegedly received a bill of over $4,000. As a result, the Texan says she received a bill for $611—over three times the price she was expecting.
In March 2020, The Capital Forum consulted with medical coding and billing experts who pointed to “unbundling” as a potential cause. Unbundling occurs when a healthcare provider “codes” a service as several different components instead of one, cheaper code.
“It’s kind of like the sum of the parts is greater than the whole,” Peggy Stilley of AAPC, the largest medical coding training company in the world, told The Capital Forum.
Invoices from Natera show that the company unbundles its single Horizon 274 test into up to 27 unique codes, according to The Capital Forum’s analysis.
Various states have passed laws against surprise billing. Consumers who were overcharged for Natera test results may have legal options. A lawsuit against the medical testing company could help consumers recover inflated costs they may have been pressured into paying.
63 thoughts onHow Much Do Natera Test Results Cost With Insurance?
Same – charged my insurance $10,500
Ditto, told it would cost 249 and billed insurance one for 10500 and other for 3900 after the insurance discount its showing outstanding balance of 7068
My insurance is charged $3900 and $10500 for Natera Panorama and Horizon test. Whom to reach to get it fixed.
I have to pay 7000 in total for this from my end because insurance would not cover whole amount
Whom to reach to report such high billing
i highly doubt that mine said the same thing until i got a bill from natera that it said non covered service with a rate of 249 and its a discounted price
I went through the same thing. I was told it would be around 200 to 300. My insurance denied and I received from natera a bill for $14000 and I was asked to pay $8000 out of pocket. Please include me if there is any class action lawsuit
I took the test because my wife’s test came back positive for something and they said I should take it to be safe and it would be 249. Today I got a bill for 10,500. How could I possibly pay that with a kid on the way
I just received a bill for $10,500 for non invasive prenatal genetic testing. My insurance denied it saying my doctor didn’t get pre-approval. I talked to my doctor and she said that Natera is supposed to do that. She said she has no idea what to do and gave me their rep at natera to contact so I can try to figure it out myself.
Literally same exact thing, was told 249 and then received a bill for $10,900
Bill for 10,500*
Doctor told me the prenatal genetic test would be $100 which is why I decided to do it. Just got a bill from Natera today stating it is $8000 but the want me to “only” pay $749 as a discount price…. They are saying that my insurance won’t cover because the are out of network.
I opted to do self pay and my test is only $250. I was told you can go through insurance (which will most likely be denied or billed way higher) but you have to call natera afterwards and they will lower your price to 250 as well. It’s a total scam on insurance.
Insurance was billed $3,900 for my NIPT Testing. Way higher than what they said initially.
same with us! they billed insurance over 14k and i am on hook for 1.5k.. no way i would have done this optional test at this pricepoint. i was told it would be around $300