Pap Smear Cost: What to Expect & How to Save

The cost of a pap smear varies greatly on insurance coverage or lack thereof, as well as the cost of the exam. For insured women, it can be $5 to $10 depending on their co-pay, but it can cost up to $300 for the uninsured.

Facts

• The cost of a pap smear at Planned Parenthood depends on income level. They charge on a sliding scale. As of February 2010, a pap smear may cost between $11 and $300, according to Planned Parenthood in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Significance

• Another factor that plays into the cost is a follow-up visit. If the pap smear shows abnormal cell growth, it may cost an additional $75 to $100 for further testing at laboratory that specializes in pathology.

Benefits

• The benefits of a pap smear allow for early detection of human papillomavirus or HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, which if left undetected can cause cervical cancer. For those who don̵7;t have insurance and cannot afford to pay for a pap smear, there are ways to get one.

Prevention/Solution

• An initiative by the Centers̵7; for Disease Control called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) offers breast and cervical cancer screening services to women around the country who cannot afford them.

History

• According to the CDC.gov, approximately 8 to 11 percent of women in the United States are eligible to receive NBCCEDP services. ̶0;Since 1991, NBCCEDP-funded programs have served more than 3.4 million women̷0; diagnosed 2,382 invasive cervical cancers, and 125,722 premalignant cervical lesions,̶1; adds the cdc.gov report. To find out more about this program see Resources, click on the link to National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and then click on your state.