Have you ever wondered: “How Much Does Planned Parenthood STD Test Cost?” Well, you’re not alone. Despite the common query, there isn’t a straightforward answer about the cost on their site. Because Planned Parenthood is a network of hundreds of affiliates across the USA, each branch has different rules, services and prices. Generally, STD testing at a Planned Parenthood office in the US will carry a few different charges, including an exam fee and various lab fees. On average it’ll cost you about $180 to test for the top four STD threats. However, this number can vary widely depending on where you live, your age and household income.
Houston, we’ve got a problem…
Planned Parenthood is well recognized for providing myriad services and education to the public. Because of available subsidies for low income folks, a lot of people see it as their only affordable option for sexual health resources. But even with the positive impact it has on many, Planned Parenthood may not be a realistic choice for everyone.
Factors that may determine your Planned Parenthood STD testing price may include:
Location. Since Planned Parenthood is a network of affiliates, each branch has its own rules, services and prices. It truly varies depending on location.
Your Income. Some Planned Parenthood health centers have low-cost STD tests, but this depends on your income. While these centers aim to charge you only what you can afford, many people have circ*mstances that prevent them from being able to match this cost.
Cumulative STD Testing Cost
Often, tests at Planned Parenthood are offered individually rather than in a comprehensive package. This means that you need to test for each infection, or set of infections, separately. Since STD symptoms look similar, and many infections have no symptoms at all, you may need to take multiple tests in order to know your status for sure. The cost of these cumulative tests can really add up!
Our at-home test kits are available in a variety of different bundles, which screen for multiple different diseases at once. This method is often quicker and more painless than traditional STD tests, without even taking the cost into account.
When all is said and done, these factors mean that you may visit your local location without knowing how much your visit will cost. You have enough to deal with. Why should you need to be concerned about whether or not you will be able to afford your tests?
Does Insurance Cover STD Testing?
One major issue that affects many people interested in STD testing is insurance. Specifically, they want to know if insurance will cover the testing. That’s a complicated answer that needs to be thoroughly explored.
Paying for Testing with Insurance Coverage
In order to talk about prices, we need to talk about insurance. While some insurance companies may cover some of your bill, free isn’t always better. When your test costs are covered, your insurance company reports those results to the Medical Information Bureau database. It also shares your results with its affiliates. In the end, this information can be used to increase your cost of coverage in the future. So essentially, you’re paying less now, but more later.
Paying for Testing Without Insurance Coverage
Some people may not have the option to use insurance. In this case, you will be paying out-of-pocket costs for each STD test. This can add up quickly. Read on to find out why at-home testing is a better solution at a portion of the cost.
Testing Comparison – Lab Testing VS myLAB Box Home Tests
Creature comforts
If you’ve ever planted your bare cheeks on a doctor’s cold bench while you waited for the infamous words “this might sting a little,” you know a typical visit to an STD clinic is the antithesis to comfort. These experiences coupled with a stuffy waiting room and a chanting picket line out front do not make one eager to rush back. Avoiding an STD test because of these drawbacks isn’t unheard of.
Additionally, you may not even have a Planned Parenthood branch near your home. Although Planned Parenthood has hundreds of affiliate locations across the country, even a network of this size can’t cover every square mile. Many people in rural areas don’t have access, and their options for STD testing are slim.
If only there was another way…
How Much Does At-Home STD Testing Cost?
If you’re wondering how much does STD testing cost, you’re in luck. At-home STD testing can be incredibly affordable and most importantly, private. An at-home STD test can cost as little as $80 to have it delivered to your home.
If you’re unable to visit a doctor, taking an at-home STD test is an affordable option that isn’t dependent on your physical location. The beauty of self-administered tests is that you can take control of your health and order an at-home std testing cost from the comfort of your home. Here are some of the benefits:
- You can purchase reliable at-home testing kits for less than $80.
- You can choose single tests for a wide range of conditions, or comprehensive bundle kits that cover multiple STDs. This allows you to decide the amount you want to spend up front, without worrying about hidden or unknown costs.
- If you don’t live near your medical facility, using an at-home testing kit could also save you a considerable amount in travel costs. Simply wait for your kit to arrive, complete the test, and send it back. No insurance, co-pay, or facetime necessary.
Privacy, please
Many branches accept insurance; however, results of STD tests paid for by insurance are available to your provider and their affiliates. That’s about as private as a glass outhouse. Ventures to the clinic also risk the ultimate breach of personal privacy. The question of “What if I see someone I know?” weighs heavily on many a worried tester’s mind. Luckily, at-home testing with myLAB Box maintains your privacy. Your lab-certified results are provided on a private and secure online portal. And those results are confidential. The secure, online patient portal allows you to access your results from anywhere–and share them only with those you choose.
We need a hero
Luckily, there is another option for STD testing available to everyone in the country, which will get you lab certified results fast without leaving the comfort of your home. myLAB Box home STD test kits cost about the same as Planned Parenthood. This provides an affordable option for those who don’t have any health coverage, and it gives people who have insurance the option not to use it. You can even cover your tab with an HSA or FSA card. With myLAB Box, there’s no waiting for a phone call with results, panicking at every missed call.
Regardless of your insurance, address, or income, using an at-home test kit such as myLAB Box puts you in control over your sexual health. There is a test kit for every budget.
Bundle Up!
Thanks to combination test packages, you can test for multiple infections at once. That’s very handy for anyone looking for total peace of mind. By allowing our customers to screen for multiple infections at once, the cumulative cost of their testing is significantly reduced.
Here are a few of our combination panel options:
- 4-panel Safe Box
- 8-panel Uber Box
- 8-panel Love Box
- 14-panel Total Box
Take a look at the myLAB Box full line of at-home testing packages, we’ve even branched out into general health and beyond!
References
- For a comparison of prices, see the prices chart at mylabbox.com/home-test-how-it-works
- A study found that one reason people avoid testing is they feel uncomfortable exposing their privates. See: Shoveller JA, Knight R, Johnson J, et al. Not the swab! Young men’s experience with STI testing. Sociol Health Illn. 2010;32:57–73.
- Homeless people are more likely to be tested if the test is brought to them instead of having to go to the test. See: Auerswald CL, Sugano E, Ellen JM, et al. Street-based STD testing and treatment of homeless youth are feasible, acceptable and effective. JAdolesc Health 2006;38:208-12.
