Planned Parenthood STD Test Cost
Aside from your local doctor’s office or health clinic, STD tests are available at your local Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides a host of sexual health and family planning services.
How much does an STD test cost at Planned Parenthood?
The costs of an STD test at your local Planned Parenthood will all depend on your income, if you have health insurance and which STDs you want to be tested for, according to PlannedParenthood.org.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, most insurance companies today will cover this sort of testing, meaning, most of the time, the costs will be free as long as you meet the insurance company guidelines. Those on Medicaid, for example, are often covered at no cost. Even if you do not have a health insurance policy, all Planned Parenthood locations work on a sliding income scale, which means you can either get the test for free or for as little as $50 per individual test to as much as $225 for a comprehensive test out of pocket, again, based on your choice.
For a complete package, which includes testing for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Rapid HIV and Herpes Type II, the total costs, including the office visit are said to be $225 from our research, but again, depending on your income and/or insurance policy, the costs could be much lower, sometimes $0. But to budget, the entire package should not cost more than this if you fail to meet their income requirements and don’t have a health insurance policy.
An office visit to test one specific STD is often $50 to $70 per test, but if you purchase a comprehensive package like the one mentioned above, the costs will drastically decrease.
According to one member on Reddit.com, the rates will differ from one region to region, with a lot of locations offering low-cost or even free testing due to the local government funding which subsidizes the test rate.
Fox News, in its Planned Parenthood rolls out STD testing apps article, stated the company, even though limited in availability, released an app which allows residents to request an at-home lab kit that tested for the two most common sexually transmitted diseases. The kit is said to cost $149, about 20 times the actual cost when compared to a federal clinic. Once ordered, it will arrive in a discreet packaging and will include easy-to-read instructions using a urine sample. Once the kit is mailed to the lab, users will receive their results, either positive or negative, through their phone app and are able to take advantage of a prescription within the app by sending a selfie video if the results did come back positive.
In one interview on ClearHealthCosts.com, a man was tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea for $175 at his local Planned Parenthood.
How does the test work?
In order to receive an STD test from a local Planned Parenthood, you must visit the location and request a test. As noted, these tests are either offered individually or you can purchase a comprehensive package. From our research, a variety of STDs, including chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, trichomoniasis and syphilis, are available upon request.
Inside of any Planned Parenthood, the procedure will be no different than a local doctor’s office. They will ask you to fill out a comprehensive health history questionnaire, and from there, the samples are collected, either via blood, urine and/or a swab, depending on the STD tested, and will be sent off to the lab. With a urine test, you simple pee in a cup, while a cheek swab will require a simple swipe of the inside of your cheek with a soft swab. Other tests include a blood test, physical exam, testing your sores or using a swab to test a discharge or cells from the affected area.
According to the organization, they will test for gonorrhea and chlamydia using a urine sample, and if your results are positive, then they will provide you with a treatment plan. Many of their STD tests will require a genital exam.
As for HIV testing, this is done via a blood draw and can take up to 21 days for your results to come in, while rapid HIV testing can be done via a finger stick, with results in as little as 10 minutes.
Tests should take no longer than 15 minutes.
Which STD test will you need?
The type of STD they will want to test for will all depend upon the symptoms you’re experiencing, if your partner has an STD, the number of people you had intercourse with, the kind of intercourse you experienced and/or how often you use protection. With this information, the doctor or nurse on staff will be able to determine which STD tests will work best for your situation.
Other options
Online STD testing – Reputable online STD services, such as STDCheck.com, allow you to purchase an FDA-approved STD test kit from the comfort of your own home. From there, you will visit the lab they partner with, often LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics, and will either have your blood drawn and/or a urine sample taken. Results, often sent via email, are available within 72 hours, and in the case of positive results, many online STD testing companies can connect you with a physician who’s able to prescribe a prescription.
At-home kits – At this time, there are only two FDA-approved at-home kits: the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test, being the most common. This rapid HIV test uses an oral swab to test the fluid sample from the upper and lower gums and is able to produce a result in as little as one hour. While the test is safe, it’s highly recommended you still talk with a professional as false positives are a possibility.
Doctor’s office – Your local doctor’s office will always have STD tests available, and most of the time, before offering it, they will want to discuss your health history and perform a physical exam, often including a pelvic exam for females. However, this isn’t always the case as all doctors vary with their requirements and it will depend on your history with your doctor and circumstances. Depending on the type of STD sample taken, the results can be read almost immediately in the case of a urine sample, but for bloodwork, it could take a few days, depending on the lab your doctor’s office works with. While this is another option, this can be one of the costliest options due to the examination fees, the treatment options and additional tests if your doctor requires it. Even if you think your insurance company may cover it, there are times when your claims are denied if no symptoms were present prior to the test.
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Average Reported Cost: $0
