Alyssa Lane
Natera is a company that provides DNA testing with a focus on women's health, oncology, and organ health. They are committed to making their tests widely accessible and affordable for all who can benefit from them. The company offers a range of payment options, including insurance billing and self-pay rates, to ensure that cost is not a barrier for patients. Natera is in-network for many major health insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, which can help to reduce the cost of testing for patients. However, being in-network does not guarantee that the full cost of the test will be covered, and patients may still be responsible for out-of-pocket expenses. Natera provides personalized cost estimates to help patients understand their expected costs before testing, but these estimates are subject to change based on insurance coverage and other factors. Unfortunately, there have been complaints from customers who received bills that were significantly higher than the initial quote or estimate, in some cases by thousands of dollars. These surprise bills have led to negative reviews and even legal action against the company. Natera offers financial assistance programs and a compassionate care program to help those who may struggle to afford the cost of testing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of DNA testing | Varies depending on insurance coverage and type of test |
| Insurance coverage | Natera accepts most national and regional insurance carriers in the US, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare |
| Billing process | Natera reviews and submits a claim to the insurance company, which processes it according to their guidelines; the final amount owed is outlined on a separate bill from Natera |
| Payment options | Natera offers self-pay pricing, financial assistance programs, and interest-free payment plans for those who qualify |
| Prior authorization | Required by many health plans for certain tests; if prior authorization is denied, Natera may offer the self-pay price for the test |
| Explanation of Benefits (EOB) | A document sent by the insurance company outlining the claim amount and how much the plan covers; this is not a bill, but provides information on how the claim was processed |
What You'll Learn
Natera's commitment to affordability
Natera is committed to providing affordable testing for all who can benefit from it. The company offers access programs and price transparency to ensure that cost is not a barrier to testing. Natera accepts most national and regional healthcare plans, including major providers such as Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, to help reduce the cost of testing for patients.
Natera provides personalized cost estimates for its tests, allowing patients to know their expected out-of-pocket costs before submitting their sample. If a patient's estimated out-of-pocket costs exceed the cash price, Natera will attempt to contact them to discuss other payment options. Natera also offers self-pay pricing and interest-free payment plans for those without insurance or who prefer not to use it.
For patients who are uninsured or concerned about their ability to pay, Natera offers a Compassionate Care Program. Patients who qualify for this program will receive a Natera genetic testing bill for no more than $149 per test and may owe nothing, depending on their financial situation.
Natera strives to make the billing process transparent and accessible, providing clear information about pricing and payment options. The company works with patients to ensure that cost does not prevent them from accessing the tests they need.
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Personalised cost estimates
Natera offers personalised cost estimates for its DNA tests. These estimates can be requested before submitting your sample by either emailing [email protected] or texting 1-650-210-7046. The estimate will indicate how much you may be expected to pay out of pocket if you provide insurance information, or what your self-pay cost will be if you do not have insurance.
It is important to note that these personalised cost estimates are not final and can change depending on various factors, such as the specific type of screening panel selected, your deductible, and Natera's negotiated rate with your insurance plan. Natera strives to provide affordable testing for all who can benefit and offers an affordable self-pay price for those without adequate health insurance.
If your estimated out-of-pocket costs exceed the self-pay price, Natera will attempt to contact you via their Price Transparency Program to discuss alternative payment options. In such cases, you may be given a few business days to decide between the self-pay and insurance options. If you do not respond within the given timeframe, Natera will default to billing your insurance, and you will no longer be able to choose the self-pay option.
It is also worth mentioning that even if Natera is designated as an in-network provider for your insurance plan, it does not guarantee that 100% of the testing costs will be covered. The total amount billed to you will depend on your specific insurance plan. Therefore, it is recommended to contact your insurance plan's Member Services department to understand your coverage and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
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Financial access programs
Natera offers financial assistance programs to ensure that the cost of testing is not a barrier for patients. These programs include discounted cash rates, interest-free payment plans, and compassionate care for patients who qualify.
The Compassionate Care program is available to patients who are uninsured or concerned about their ability to pay for Natera genetic testing. Patients who qualify for this program will receive a Natera genetic testing bill for no more than $149 per test and may owe nothing, depending on their financial situation.
To apply for Compassionate Care, patients can submit an application online, send an email to [email protected], or call the Natera billing phone number at 1-844-384-2996 (8 am-7 pm CT Monday-Friday).
Natera also offers an affordable cash price for people without adequate health insurance or those who do not wish to use their insurance. In addition, Natera provides a Price Transparency Program (PTP) where, if the patient's out-of-pocket responsibility estimate exceeds the cash price, Natera will attempt to contact the patient to discuss other payment options.
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Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a document sent to you by your insurer after your Natera test has been completed, a claim has been submitted, and your insurance company has processed it. It is not a bill, although it may look like one.
The EOB outlines the claim amount and the amount that your insurance plan covers. It also shows how your insurance company processed the claim that Natera submitted to them. As with most medical services, the amounts that Natera claims for a test are pre-negotiated with your insurance company and are different from Natera’s discounted self-pay prices.
The EOB is intended to inform you that charges have been filed on your behalf. Some of the information you can expect to find on your EOB includes:
- The services (tests) you received and the date
- The dollar amount of the claim submitted by Natera to your insurer
- How much your insurance plan covers
- How much you may be expected to pay
This amount will vary based on whether your test is a covered benefit and your individual plan parameters. If your insurance does not cover the test in any capacity, the insurance company will direct Natera to bill you for the full test price. In this case, you may work with Natera to discover what other payment options you may have.
Your EOB is not a bill and should not be treated as one. It simply describes how you and your insurance plan will share the cost of a medical test or procedure. Even though it contains an amount that you may be expected to pay, this amount may not be final. There may be further discounts that Natera can negotiate with your insurer, or that you may qualify for under their Financial Assistance Program.
The final amount that you owe, if anything, will be outlined on a separate bill that comes from Natera—not from your insurance company. This separate bill from Natera will be delivered on Natera letterhead.
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Payment options
Natera offers a range of payment options to its patients, including insurance billing and self-pay options.
Insurance Billing
Natera is an in-network laboratory for many major health insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. This means that Natera has negotiated rates with these insurance companies, which can help reduce the cost of testing for patients. However, it's important to note that even if Natera is in-network for your insurance plan, it does not guarantee that 100% of the cost of testing will be covered. The amount billed to you will depend on your specific insurance plan, and you may still have out-of-pocket expenses. To get an accurate estimate of your cost, it is recommended to contact your insurance company's Member Services department, as this number is usually found on the back of your insurance card.
Self-Pay Options
For patients who do not have insurance or prefer not to use their insurance, Natera offers an affordable self-pay price. This option may also be offered to patients whose insurance companies deny their claims. Natera strives to make genetic testing accessible to everyone and offers a discounted self-pay price for certain tests. Patients can contact Natera directly to inquire about the self-pay price for their specific test.
Financial Assistance Programs
Recognising that healthcare costs can be a significant burden, Natera offers financial assistance programs to help make testing more affordable. The Compassionate Care Program is available to patients who are uninsured or concerned about their ability to pay. Qualified patients may receive a discounted bill of no more than $149 per test and may even owe nothing, depending on their financial situation. Natera also offers interest-free payment plans to help spread out the cost of testing over time.
Price Transparency Program
Natera is committed to providing transparent pricing information to its patients. Through its Price Transparency Program, Natera will notify patients if their estimated out-of-pocket costs exceed the self-pay price. This gives patients the opportunity to choose the payment option that works best for them.
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Frequently asked questions
You can receive a personalized cost estimate for specific tests by texting 1-650-210-7046 or emailing [email protected]. You will need to provide your doctor's name, clinic, and state, your full name and date of birth, and your insurance information.
Natera is an in-network laboratory for most national and regional healthcare plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. However, being designated as in-network does not guarantee that 100% of the cost of testing will be covered. The amount billed depends on your specific insurance plan.
If your estimated out-of-pocket costs are higher than the self-pay price, Natera will attempt to contact you to discuss other payment options through their Price Transparency Program.
Once your insurance has reviewed the claim, Natera will issue a bill for any out-of-pocket costs. The payment is due 30 days after the invoice date, which is listed on the bill.
