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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?
I’m seeing the same comment over and over again- the same thing is happening to us. We were told that we had to do the Horizon and Panorama tests, that would be covered by our insurance. Natera even called us to verify our insurance info. We were told that, at most, we would pay $249.00 for each test. Now we’re getting a notice from our insurance company that the claim was denied and that we’ll be getting bills for $10,500 and $3,900 respectively, and these numbers keep repeating in several if not all messages. Has anyone out there been able to deal with this? We are Natera and Obgyns giving false info or advertisement? Help, please.
Luis,
I was looking at the same thing today with our bills and we decided that we will either let the Doctors office deal with it, or we are simply not going to pay the bill. Don’t feel trapped like you have to pay the bill today because you don’t. I would contact your doctor’s office again, then your insurance, because they might have used the wrong coding for the bill.
This is happening to me for the second time. I did the testing with my first pregnancy, they quoted me around $200 then sent a bill for $8K. I forwarded them the emails I had with the quotes and they changed my invoice to that $200 right away. I just did the testing again for my 2nd and was sent a bill for $1K. Going to do the same thing, there is no way I will pay that bill. Its a shame they feel the need to stress out pregnant women.
They also sent us the bill of $13000 for genetic testing . Our Doctor told us the cost is no more than $200. It’s insane.it’s all fraud.any suggestion what should we do now .
How have any of you resolved this?
My insurance just go billed for $14k for these tests.
Did you find any resolution for this ? Plz suggest
Just got a letter from insurance stating my panorama was denied, the charge is 3,900 for twins. How are these charges all so different and why was my insurance not getting the bill until 11 months later??
I did horizon screening test with natera. I was told $249 for the test . But now My insurance states that they got $ 14,000 . How this suppose to work ? This is ridiculous
Hi Abi, the same happened to me . Natera charged for 14k . you know what we can do now ?
This is absolutely insane. My husband and I both took the genetic screening tests and were told that it would be no more than $249/each. Well guess what… I paid $980 for just me, and they billed my insurance for $10,500 for me and $13,987 for my husband. 14 months later we got a notice from our insurance company that they have denied my husband’s claim. Is there a class action lawsuit going on because we are completely unable to pay $13,987.00
I just got the EXACT same number! $13,987 for genetic screen test on myself. This is absolutely ABSURD. I’ll share it I come to any conclusion.
Was told around 100 for the test, 250 max, just got a call from natera saying my cost after insurance is over 1000.
My insurance was just billed 14,800$. It’s insane.
My insurance paid almost $5,000 to them and I still haven’t got a bill from Natera. I hope they don’t dare send one because I’m definitely not paying them one more cent.
Yes! This is fraud! We’re in the exact same boat. They charged our insurance a ridiculous amount of money and then when I asked why they did that they told me that it shouldn’t matter to me because insurance is covering it. I was shocked. Like no….that’s not how that works.
The same thing is happening to me. My insurance company paid $14,000 and I have to pay 130$ to my insurance company. However, Natera sent them another bill so they can get paid again from my insurance company. I already was lied to by my obgyn saying that I would only have to pay 100$ for each tests but that was false advertising clearly. If this dont get taken care of they will be talking to my attorney.
This companies billing practices need to be stopped.
I am facing the same issue . They sent the bill of $ 13000.what should we do now
I got prenatal genetic testing, they bill my insurance company $9000 and of course, they denied, so they send me a bill of $695 with a discount of $395, this is insane and absolutely fraud. I will start with BBB, someone has to do something.
I’m also one that just got a bill for the NIPT test they Natera who shows my insurance is in their network. I ended up with a discounted bill of $749, this is not ok at all. I will be calling to dispute this. Has anyone else had any luck disputing these charges with them? Why are these doctors and hospital still using this scam artist company?
I don’t know but I’m in the same boat and have a $600 bill to pay when I was told by my doctor that I wouldn’t pay more than $300. In incredible upset.
Same thing happen to me but see if your insurance pays for it and dispute that bill.