How Much Does Skin Biopsy Cost?
A skin biopsy involves removing a small sample of skin tissue for laboratory examination to diagnose skin conditions including rashes, infections, and skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell carcinoma.
Without Insurance
$350
With Insurance
$50
Medicare
$40
National Average
$147
By Elena Bellini, MPH, Health Policy & Management · Last reviewed 2026-04-21 ·
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2025 · Methodology · Editorial standards Overview
A skin biopsy is a brief office procedure that samples skin for microscopic examination to evaluate rashes, suspicious lesions, or suspected skin cancers (basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma). Three main techniques exist: shave biopsy (a horizontal slice with a blade for surface lesions), punch biopsy (a cylindrical core usually 3-4 mm), and excisional biopsy (full removal with a scalpel for larger or deeper lesions). The procedure itself takes 5 to 15 minutes under local anesthesia. Every skin biopsy generates at least two distinct charges: the provider fee for performing the biopsy (a specific CPT code that depends on technique) and a pathology fee for the lab interpretation. If multiple lesions are sampled, each is billed as its own CPT, usually with decreasing reimbursement on additional sites. Same-day excision of cancers (not just biopsy) is a different, more expensive code. Dermatologist offices typically include everything in the office visit; hospital-based dermatology clinics add a facility fee.
What affects the cost
- Biopsy technique: shave biopsies are cheapest, punch biopsies slightly higher, and excisional biopsies with sutures the most expensive.
- Number of lesions biopsied: each additional biopsy adds a separate CPT code (often with multiple-procedure discounting).
- Site of service: hospital-affiliated dermatology clinics add a facility fee; independent dermatology offices bundle into the visit fee.
- Pathology processing: standard H&E staining is baseline; immunohistochemistry or special stains for ambiguous lesions add costs.
- Office visit level: the separate evaluation-and-management visit (if billed) stacks on top of the biopsy charge.
- Suturing or advanced closure: closure with intermediate or complex repair codes adds charges beyond the biopsy itself.
How to Save
- Choose an independent dermatology office over a hospital-affiliated dermatology clinic to avoid facility fees.
- Ask the dermatologist to biopsy only the lesions with meaningful concern, not every cosmetically bothersome spot.
- Request the Good Faith Estimate if you are uninsured; dermatology offices often offer cash-pay package pricing.
- Verify the pathology lab is in-network — the biopsy itself may be in-network but the lab could be contracted separately.
- Use your HSA or FSA to pay the patient portion with pre-tax dollars.
- If you have a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, compare the negotiated in-network rate to the cash price.
Insurance and coverage notes
Medicare Part B and commercial plans cover skin biopsies when medically necessary to evaluate a lesion of concern. Prior authorization is generally not required. Patients owe 20% coinsurance under Medicare after the Part B deductible; commercial plans typically apply standard office-visit cost-sharing plus pathology. The No Surprises Act provides protection against out-of-network pathology at in-network facilities. Screening full-body skin exams themselves are not a covered preventive service under the ACA, but biopsies performed during any dermatology visit are covered when clinically indicated. Expect separate line items for the biopsy and pathology interpretation.
Data sources for this page
Cost figures on this page are compiled from the following sources, triangulated per the rules in our methodology:
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2025 — primary CMS reference used as the Medicare-rate anchor.
- Hospital Price Transparency machine-readable files (HPT MRFs) from a sample of major hospitals in each state, per the federal Hospital Price Transparency rule.
- Transparency in Coverage payer in-network rate files for commercial-rate cross-validation.
- State All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) summaries where published (Colorado, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maine, Utah, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon).
Last reviewed 2026-04-21. See editorial standards for our fact-checking process and correction policy.
Range: $256 to $483 · 50 states shown
Cost by State
| State | Without Insurance | With Insurance | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $256 | $37 | $29 |
| Arkansas | $263 | $38 | $30 |
| West Virginia | $263 | $38 | $30 |
| Alabama | $273 | $39 | $31 |
| Oklahoma | $273 | $39 | $31 |
| Kentucky | $298 | $43 | $34 |
| Louisiana | $301 | $43 | $34 |
| Iowa | $308 | $44 | $35 |
| New Mexico | $308 | $44 | $35 |
| South Carolina | $308 | $44 | $35 |
| South Dakota | $308 | $44 | $35 |
| Kansas | $312 | $45 | $36 |
| North Dakota | $312 | $45 | $36 |
| Idaho | $315 | $45 | $36 |
| Nebraska | $315 | $45 | $36 |
| Tennessee | $315 | $45 | $36 |
| Indiana | $326 | $47 | $37 |
| Missouri | $326 | $47 | $37 |
| Utah | $326 | $47 | $37 |
| Wyoming | $326 | $47 | $37 |
| Georgia | $329 | $47 | $38 |
| North Carolina | $329 | $47 | $38 |
| Michigan | $333 | $48 | $38 |
| Montana | $333 | $48 | $38 |
| Arizona | $343 | $49 | $39 |
| Ohio | $343 | $49 | $39 |
| Wisconsin | $343 | $49 | $39 |
| Maine | $347 | $50 | $40 |
| Texas | $347 | $50 | $40 |
| Florida | $354 | $51 | $40 |
| Minnesota | $354 | $51 | $40 |
| Illinois | $361 | $52 | $41 |
| Pennsylvania | $361 | $52 | $41 |
| Delaware | $364 | $52 | $42 |
| Nevada | $364 | $52 | $42 |
| Vermont | $364 | $52 | $42 |
| Virginia | $364 | $52 | $42 |
| Colorado | $371 | $53 | $42 |
| New Hampshire | $371 | $53 | $42 |
| Oregon | $371 | $53 | $42 |
| Maryland | $385 | $55 | $44 |
| Rhode Island | $389 | $56 | $44 |
| Washington | $389 | $56 | $44 |
| Connecticut | $420 | $60 | $48 |
| New Jersey | $420 | $60 | $48 |
| California | $462 | $66 | $53 |
| Massachusetts | $466 | $67 | $53 |
| Alaska | $473 | $68 | $54 |
| New York | $473 | $68 | $54 |
| Hawaii | $483 | $69 | $55 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does skin biopsy cost without insurance?
The average cost of skin biopsy without insurance in the United States is $350. Costs vary significantly by state.
Does insurance cover skin biopsy?
Most health insurance plans cover skin biopsy when medically necessary. With insurance, the average out-of-pocket cost is $50.
Does Medicare cover skin biopsy?
Medicare Part B typically covers skin biopsy when ordered by a doctor. The average Medicare-approved amount is $40.
Reviewed by Elena Bellini · Last reviewed: 2026-04-21
Data sourced from American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2025. Last updated: 2026-03-01. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.