Folate test cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 16 hospitals publish a cash price for folate (folic acid) blood test: from $24.00 to $318.00, with a median of $42.15. The lowest price is at UPMC Western Maryland (Cumberland). The highest price is 13.2× the lowest.
- The median here, $42.15, is 51% below the US median of $86.00.
- That is 2.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($14.70).
- Maryland ranks 3rd of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 16 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.
Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 82746. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Western Maryland lowest Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV FOLATE | $24.00 | $40.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| The Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC FOLIC ACID; SERUM | $29.60 | $37.00 | Aug 27, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV FOLIC ACID (FOLATE) SERUM | $30.05 | $30.66 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $32.07 | $32.72 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $32.12 | $32.78 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC Folate-Serum | $34.16 | $34.86 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV FOLIC ACID SERUM | $39.68 | $40.49 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC FOLIC ACID (FOL) | $41.17 | $42.01 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV FOLIC ACID SERUM | $43.12 | $44.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $43.73 | $44.62 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $44.05 | $44.95 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Folic acid; serum | $46.95 | $46.95 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC BLOOD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $48.06 | $49.04 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FOLIC ACID SERUM | $48.77 | $49.77 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Serum Folic Acid (Folate) | $55.42 | $56.55 | Nov 5, 2025 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD FOLATE,SERUM | $318.00 | $318.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 8 | $29.60 | $43.89 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $30.05 | $39.68 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $24.00 | $24.00 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $32.07 | $32.07 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $46.95 | $46.95 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $318.00 | $318.00 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $41.17 | $41.17 |
What folate test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Folate test explained.
Folate (folic acid) blood test in other states
- Alabama$61.50
- Alaska$138.38
- Arizona$85.19
- Arkansas$53.27
- California$109.20
- Colorado$126.29
- Connecticut$75.00
- Delaware$196.63
- District of Columbia$119.53, 3 hospitals
- Florida$125.50
- Georgia$86.58
- Hawaii$133.90
- Idaho$84.10
- Illinois$114.00
- Indiana$76.69
- Iowa$89.60
- Kansas$98.15
- Kentucky$98.57
- Louisiana$39.79
- Maine$81.00
- Massachusetts$71.14
- Michigan$78.55
- Minnesota$88.00
- Mississippi$53.04
- Missouri$82.17
- Montana$91.02
- Nebraska$108.53
- Nevada$148.45
- New Hampshire$88.37
- New Jersey$16.91
- New Mexico$90.90
- New York$55.09
- North Carolina$85.70
- North Dakota$94.00
- Ohio$67.55
- Oklahoma$65.70
- Oregon$87.75
- Pennsylvania$86.80
- Puerto Rico$67.00
- Rhode Island$82.00
- South Carolina$118.57
- South Dakota$112.00
- Tennessee$49.34
- Texas$81.00
- Utah$173.94
- Vermont$113.98
- Virginia$108.40
- Washington$105.44
- West Virginia$70.72
- Wisconsin$98.80
- Wyoming$92.56
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.