Granted Health data through October 2026. Last reviewed: November 12, 2026.
What this means for you: Prenatal genetic testing cost a median of $650 after insurance, based on 3,000+ bills people sent Granted from December 2025 to October 2026. Check your bill against your EOB (explanation of benefits), the statement your insurer sends after it processes a claim, before you pay. Here's what the bills show:
Before you pay: If you got a bill for NIPT (noninvasive prenatal testing) or carrier screening, check it first. Once a bill is paid, there are fewer ways to lower it.
What people owed: We looked at 3,000+ prenatal genetic test bills people sent us from December 2025 to October 2026. After insurance, people typically owed $650. When our health advocates lowered a bill, it typically went from $651 to $249.
Bills over $1,000: About 1 in 6 people owed more than $1,000 for a prenatal genetic test.
Highest bills: Prenatal genetic test bills that included both NIPT and carrier screening had the highest median balance, $899.
Most common problem: Insurance paid nothing toward the test on 22% of prenatal genetic test bills in Granted Health data.
How much does prenatal genetic testing cost with insurance?
Across 3,000+ insurance bills uploaded to Granted, the average person owed $801 after the insurer processed the claim. The lab's list price before insurance can be far higher. In one case NPR reported in August 2025, a lab billed an insurer $4,480 for a prenatal genetic test, but its cash price for the same test was $349. Your EOB is the best place to see what you owe.
Here's how much people owed after insurance:
$500 or less: about 1 in 4 people (24%)
$500 to $1,000: about 6 in 10 people (60%)
More than $1,000: about 1 in 6 people (16%), including 4% who owed more than $2,000.
Balances above $1,000 showed up far more often on bills that included carrier screening than on bills for NIPT alone.
Source: Granted Health analysis, December 28, 2025 to October 27, 2026.
What problems show up on prenatal genetic test bills?
Insurance paying nothing toward the test was the most common problem on prenatal genetic test bills in Granted Health data, showing up on 22% of bills. We flagged these patterns from the text of each bill and EOB. The flags describe what the paperwork said, not a confirmed cause.
Insurance paid nothing toward the test on 22% of bills.
12% of bills were past due or sent to collections.
8% showed a claim that was denied or not covered.
6% included a lab discount for paying quickly.
2% came from an out-of-network lab.
Source: Granted Health analysis, December 28, 2025 to October 27, 2026.
A $0 insurance payment can mean the full amount went toward your deductible, the amount you pay for covered care each year before your plan starts paying. It can also mean your plan denied the claim or the lab never sent the claim to your plan. Your EOB shows which one applies. If your EOB shows a denial, ask the ordering office to confirm prior authorization, your plan's advance approval for the test, and then appeal.
One in eight bills was already past due or in collections when people uploaded it. People uploaded their bill a median of 73 days after the test. A lab bill often arrives weeks after the blood draw, from a company you may not recognize, while other pregnancy bills are arriving too.
How much can a prenatal genetic test bill be lowered?
On prenatal genetic test bills that a Granted health advocate lowered, the median balance fell from $651 to $249. That is a median savings of $500, or a 71% median reduction. About 1 in 6 of those bills (17%) dropped to $0.
This matters because most people pay a prenatal genetic test bill as soon as it arrives. The test is routine, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends offering it to every pregnant person, so a bill for several hundred dollars from a lab you may not recognize can feel like something you just have to pay. But insurance paid nothing toward the test on 22% of the bills we saw, and 12% were already past due. A $0 insurance payment, a denied claim, or a second test you did not agree to are all things that can be checked and fixed.
Of 637 closed cases, 56% ended with a lower bill. That count includes cases people stopped responding to, so it is a conservative figure. Some reductions came from discounts labs offer to anyone who pays quickly, and you can ask for that discount yourself. Granted is free to start. Each bill is different, and results vary.
NIPT vs carrier screening: which costs more?
Carrier screening bills varied more than NIPT bills in Granted Health data, and bills that included both tests cost the most. NIPT, also called cell-free DNA screening, is a blood test that screens a pregnancy for certain chromosome conditions. Carrier screening tests a parent's own genes for inherited conditions they could pass on.
NIPT (cell-free DNA screening): median of $650. Three in four were $749 or less, 9 in 10 were $835 or less, and 7% were above $1,000.
Carrier screening: median of $649. Three in four were $1,191 or less, 9 in 10 were $1,538 or less, and 29% were above $1,000.
NIPT and carrier screening on the same bill: median of $899. Three in four were $1,498 or less, 9 in 10 were $2,125 or less, and 44% were above $1,000.
Source: Granted Health analysis, December 28, 2025 to October 27, 2026.
What are the most common prenatal genetic tests?
The most common prenatal genetic tests in the U.S. are NIPT brands such as Panorama, MaterniT21 PLUS, UNITY, Prequel, QNatal Advanced and Verifi, and carrier screening brands such as Horizon, Foresight, Labcorp Carrier Screen (formerly Inheritest) and QHerit. Your bill usually names the lab that ran the test, and sometimes the test brand. Use the list below to match the name on your bill to the type of test.
NIPT tests
Panorama (Natera): screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 and triploidy, with optional add-ons such as fetal sex and microdeletions.
MaterniT21 PLUS (Labcorp): screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13, with optional add-ons such as fetal sex and microdeletions.
UNITY Fetal Risk Screen (BillionToOne): NIPT combined with carrier screening. Screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13, plus single-gene conditions such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.
Prequel (Myriad Genetics): screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13, with optional add-ons. It can be done as early as 8 weeks.
QNatal Advanced (Quest Diagnostics): screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13, with optional add-ons.
Verifi (Illumina): screens for trisomy 21, 18 and 13, with optional add-ons.
Carrier screening tests
Horizon (Natera): panels that screen for up to 274 conditions.
Foresight (Myriad Genetics): expanded panels of inherited conditions.
Labcorp Carrier Screen, formerly Inheritest (Labcorp): panels from 2 genes to more than 790 conditions.
QHerit (Quest Diagnostics): five panels that screen for up to 611 conditions.
Test names and labs checked November 12, 2026. Our cost figures in this report are not broken out by test brand or lab.
The name on your bill can also point to an add-on. Panels for microdeletions or extra chromosomes cost more and may not be covered by your plan, so check your EOB for a separate line if you did not ask for one.
What affects how much you owe for a prenatal genetic test?
Your plan's coverage rules and how much of your deductible is left set most of what you owe for a prenatal genetic test. A second test on the same bill adds to it. ACOG recommends offering prenatal genetic screening to all pregnant people regardless of age or risk. Each plan still writes its own coverage rules, and some plans limit coverage by age or risk.
Prenatal genetic screening usually happens early in pregnancy, often from the 10th week, per MedlinePlus. If you have not met much of your deductible yet, you can owe the full amount your plan allows for the test. Starting January 1, 2027, providers bill pregnancy care differently, and more prenatal services may arrive as separate bills. Our guide Having a Baby in 2027: What It Costs and the New Single Bill covers that change.
Is it cheaper to pay cash for a prenatal genetic test?
Paying cash can be cheaper, especially if you have not met your deductible yet. Some labs offer a set cash price if you skip insurance.
Natera, which runs the Panorama and Horizon tests, lists a cash price of $249 or $349, depending on the test, as of November 2026. Compare that with the $650 median people in our data owed after insurance. Natera also says people who qualify based on income and household size may pay $0 to $239 per test. It offers interest-free payment plans of up to 12 months.
Other labs may offer a set price too. Myriad says people without insurance or with a high deductible can opt out of insurance and pay a fixed price. Myriad doesn't list that price online, so call and ask.
There is a tradeoff. If the lab doesn't bill your plan, what you pay may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you pay for covered care in a plan year. If you expect a lot of pregnancy bills this year, ask your plan which choice leaves you better off.
Call the lab before your blood draw, or as soon as the bill arrives. You can say:
"What is your cash price for this test?"
"Do you have a discount for paying quickly, or an income based discount?"
"You already billed my insurance. Can I still get the cash price?"
6 Things to check before you pay a prenatal genetic test
If you have questions about your bill, don’t pay yet. Granted can help you check the bill.
Wait for your EOB before you pay the lab. The EOB shows what your plan allowed, what it paid, and what you owe.
Match the bill to the EOB. If the lab asks for more than the EOB says you owe, ask the lab for a corrected bill.
Check which tests the lab billed. If you see carrier screening or an add-on panel you did not agree to, ask the ordering office what it ordered.
If your plan denied the claim, ask the ordering office to confirm prior authorization or send a letter explaining why you needed the test. Then ask your plan to reconsider. Our 48-hour plan for a denied claim walks through the first steps.
Ask the lab for its cash price, its discount for paying quickly, and income-based discounts. Compare those amounts with what you owe through insurance.
If the bill is past due, ask the lab to pause collections while you sort it out. Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
Our guide EOB vs Medical Bill: How to Catch Billing Errors Before You Pay shows how to read the two side by side.
How Granted can help with a prenatal genetic test bill
Granted can review your prenatal genetic test bill against your EOB, check which tests the lab billed, and look for opportunities to lower what you owe. Our human health advocates contact the lab to fix errors and ask about discounts, and we handle the follow-up with you.
If you are looking at a bill like this one, upload it and get a second look before you pay. Free to start. You only pay if we lower your bill. Check your bill
How Granted Health analyzed prenatal genetic test bills
Granted Health analyzed prenatal genetic test cases that people opened between December 28, 2025 and October 27, 2026. Most of the tests took place in 2025 and 2026. We report each case once, using its main bill.
Owed: the balance the person was asked to pay after insurance, from the case record or the largest amount due on the uploaded bill. This is not the lab's list price.
Test type: sorted by test names and billing codes on each bill. About 860 bills did not name the test.
Bill problems: flagged from the text of each bill and EOB. These show what the paperwork said, not a confirmed cause.
Lowered bill: any lower balance recorded when the case closed. Some include discounts the lab offered for paying quickly.
The data includes people who chose to bring a bill to Granted. The data may not represent all prenatal genetic test bills in the U.S.
Key terms in this report
Prenatal genetic test: a lab test during pregnancy that screens the pregnancy or a parent's genes for certain genetic conditions.
NIPT (cell-free DNA screening): a prenatal blood test that screens a pregnancy for certain chromosome conditions.
Carrier screening: a test of a parent's own genes for inherited conditions they could pass on.
EOB (explanation of benefits): your insurer's statement of what it allowed, what it paid, and what you owe. It is not a bill.
Deductible: the amount you pay for covered care each year before your plan starts paying.
Prior authorization: your plan's advance approval for a test, requested by the ordering office.
Income-based discounts: lower prices based on your household income.
Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you pay for covered care in a plan year.
Cash price: a set price a lab charges when you pay directly instead of using insurance.
Frequently asked questions about prenatal genetic test bills
Does insurance cover NIPT?
Insurance coverage for NIPT depends on your plan. ACOG recommends offering it to all pregnant people, but each plan sets its own rules. Some plans limit coverage by age or risk. Even when NIPT is covered, you can owe the full allowed amount if you haven't met your deductible. Insurance paid nothing toward the test on 22% of bills in our data.
How much does NIPT cost?
NIPT cost a median of $650 after insurance in Granted Health data from December 2025 to October 2026, and 9 in 10 NIPT bills were $835 or less. Only 7% of NIPT-only bills were above $1,000. Bills that combined NIPT with carrier screening had a higher median, $899.
How much does carrier screening cost?
Carrier screening cost a median of $649 after insurance in Granted Health data from December 2025 to October 2026. Carrier screening bills varied more than NIPT bills, and 29% were above $1,000. Larger panels and denied claims can raise the cost.
Why is my prenatal genetic test bill so high?
A prenatal genetic test bill is often high because labs set high prices, and your plan may not pay much yet. The test can be done from about 10 weeks, which may be before you've met your deductible for the year. A denial or a second test raises it further: bills with both NIPT and carrier screening had a median of $899.
Can a prenatal genetic test bill be lowered?
On bills a Granted health advocate lowered, the median balance fell from $651 to $249, a median savings of $500, and about 1 in 6 dropped to $0. Results vary by bill and plan.
A prenatal genetic test bill can often be lowered by fixing errors, appealing a denial, or asking the lab for a discount.
Who is Granted?
Granted is a digital health advocate that reviews medical bills and EOBs, finds billing errors, negotiates bills, appeals denied claims, and checks eligibility for income based discounts. We can check a prenatal genetic test bill against your EOB and contact the lab for you. Granted is free to start.
Sources & More information
Granted Health, analysis of prenatal genetic test cases uploaded December 28, 2025 to October 27, 2026 (pulled Oct 27, 2026)
Myriad Genetics, "Prequel Prenatal Screening Can Now be Performed Eight Weeks into Pregnancy," Nov 19, 2024: https://myriad.gcs-web.com/node/25726 (checked Nov 12, 2026)
ACOG, NIPT policy advocacy letter: https://www.acog.org/advocacy/policy-priorities/non-invasive-prenatal-testing/policy-advocacy/patient-policy-letter (checked Nov 12, 2026)
MedlinePlus, Prenatal cell-free DNA screening, updated Mar 19, 2024: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/prenatal-cell-free-dna-screening (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Aetna, Clinical Policy Bulletin 0464, Maternal Biomarker Screening for Fetal Conditions, last reviewed Jul 17, 2026: https://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/400_499/0464.html (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Myriad Genetics, Foresight Carrier Screen: https://myriad.com/managed-care/foresight-carrier-screen/ (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Labcorp, Labcorp Carrier Screen panels (formerly Inheritest): https://www.labcorp.com/womens-health/providers/carrier-screening/labcorp-carrier-screen/labcorp-carrier-screen-panels (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Quest Diagnostics, QHerit carrier screening: https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/about-our-tests/womens-health/pregnancy-and-fertility/pregnant-patients/qherit-carrier-screening (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Natera, Horizon carrier screening: https://www.natera.com/womens-health/horizon-advanced-carrier-screening/ (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Allay Life, comparison of UNITY, MaterniT21, Prequel and Panorama, updated Jun 25, 2025: https://allay-life.com/comparing-prenatal-genetic-tests-nipt-billiontoone-unity-test-labcorp-maternit21-test-myriad-prequel-test-and-natera-panorama-test/ (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Natera, Women's health pricing and billing: https://www.natera.com/womens-health/pricing-billing/ (checked Nov 12, 2026)
Myriad Genetics, Genetic testing cost information: https://myriad.com/affordability (checked Nov 12, 2026)
NPR (via Michigan Public), "Offered a cash price for a prenatal genetic test? It may be your best bet," Aug 22, 2025: https://www.michiganpublic.org/2025-08-22/offered-a-cash-price-for-a-prenatal-genetic-test-it-may-be-your-best-bet (checked Nov 12, 2026)
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