For those who have health insurance, making a seemingly routine trip to the doctor is never much of a hassle. They just pay the co-pay, tell the doctor about their pain levels and go on their way. What happens, though, when a person does not have health insurance? In that case, going to see a gynecologist is much more of a challenge. Uninsured women who see these doctors incur significant costs throughout the process. Just how much does it cost? That will depend on a number of factors.
The initial consultation
There are many levels of service that one might get when going to see a gynecologist. Most women who see these doctors are going just for the initial consultation. The first visit will almost always include a pelvic exam and a papsmear. These are the basic diagnostic procedures that will help to show cancer and other important conditions. When you go to a doctor for these procedures, you will pay roughly $125 out of pocket without insurance. While this is a rough average, it does represent what most can expect to pay.
The price can go up if you live in an area with expensive real estate. For instance, if you happen to live in San Francisco or New York City, you can expect the cost of that visit to go up to around $200. If you live in a smaller, less populated area, then you can expect the price to be closer to $100. Medical prices reflect the market, and bigger cities will command higher prices.
Charges for additional services
If you come into your doctor’s office with health insurance, you’ll largely receive service based on what you need. While you still have that option without health insurance, you’ll have to pay piecemeal for each additional service. There are several that you may need, depending on the source of your discomfort. A urinary tract infection diagnostic test can cost roughly $200. A standard pregnancy test, conduct by urinalysis, will cost $50 on average. You can choose the service you want and pay for it accordingly. In most cases, you can get out of the office with a total bill less than $500.
When will you pay?
The good news is that gynecologist offices are not at all like restaurants when it comes to timing of payment. Though you might be shopping a la carte for services, you won’t be billed up front. In fact, you may receive a 30-day or 60-day grace period before you are required to make payment. This can provide you with some leeway if you have to have medical service but aren’t ready to cut a big check just yet. You can wait and pay later.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!