How much does a PSMA cost?

America has the worst health"care".

Down here.... 3000 bucks privately
https://www.bayurology.co.nz/blog/post/93766/psma-pet-scan/
Or if you can wait.... free in a public hospital.

Yes. https://www.auntminnie.com/clinical-news/molecular-imaging/article/15633493/psmapetct-is-costeffective-over-standard-prostate-cancer-imaging Medicare was able to negotiate for $15,000 a year ago. Lantheus expected a billion dollars in sales for just the agent in 2024.

This is interesting....

In Florida:
Patients without insurance coverage (or when an authorization is denied) have an option to pay cash for the scan. The total charge is comprised of two components. The actual PET scan portion is our standard $1,000 charge. The cost of the PSMA “tracer” or the material we inject to perform the scan, is set by the manufacturer and is -approximately- $5,000. Your exact cost will be provided to you beforehand, and we -never- have hidden fees or surprise bills.
https://www.petimagingflorida.com/psma-pet-scan-faq/#hfaq-post-21294

@bluegill
OMG!!
I assume you are not on Mecdicare. Medicare does cover PSMA. Medicare would normally have a 20% co-pay. That sounds like a lot for a PSMA. Most insurance companies will have authorized costs figures of what they approve and will pay. I have secondary insurance with FEP BCBS and they also cover PSMA and paid the co-payments not coverd by Medicare.

Whom ever prescribed your PSMA should have checked with your insurance company and the cost to you. I would check with your insurance company about the high co-pay. If they approved the test they should have given what they pay and what your co-pay would have been.

I see @peterj116 has given you some great information. He is correct there are two components. And he gave you the information on the "tracer" which is injected and then they perform the scan. I agree your exact costs if not covered in full should have been given to you.

I would challenge the costs and asked them to give you specific breakdown of costs and what they covered for each costs. You can alway challenge which I did all the time before I had Medicare and supplemental insurance.

My wife had back fusion. The surgeon wanted her to use an electric belt around her back surgery to promote bone growth. Medicare came back would not cover but my supplemental would but we would have to pay a $500.00 co-pay. This is the information your doctor and or your insurance company should be providing.
Good luck!

Well, I'm going to drag my feet on paying this bill, and maybe they'll lower it. Or not.
I also recently had a Lupron injection, so that bill is coming, too.

In just a few short months I'll be on Medicare! Turning 65 for me is almost as good as when I turned 16 and could get a driver's license.

Hospitals are notorious for turning bills over to collection agencies when you don’t pay. You need to contact them and negotiate the price down, It may or may not work. Some people have done this successfully. Claim financial issues makes it too much.

Well, at least for now, if you don’t pay that bill, it won’t show up on your credit report.

*Activate 'Grumpy Old Man' mode:

It hurts to see Americans (and Canadians?) suffer when it comes to medical care.
If you want botox or a sex change or bigger tits... pay for it yourself.
But if you have something like cancer, that's totally not your fault, no-one should be able to exploit that & send you bankrupt for an injury or disease you didn't want in the first place.

When I lived in Australia, I was issued a Medicare card that worked like a credit card - but was "free".
I paid I think around $300 extra in taxes & it meant that I could go to my local GP, swipe the card & pay nothing.
Ditto for a hospital visit/stay.
The Medicare card basically showed that I was an Australian taxpayer, so contributed to the country's healthcare costs.
Private hospitals are certainly available through optional health insurance - which probably meant shorter wait times, better food & prettier nurses.

Here in New Zealand, we don't have a card - and GP visits can be expensive - but hospitals are free (unless you choose to go private).
Even the GP is a cheaper, because most medications are free. Actually, there's a $5 government charge, but the pharmacy chains generally pay that $5 for you, just to get you in the door - in that hope that you'll buy some perfume or shampoo on the way out.

We also have the government (taxpayer) funded Accident Compensation Corporation. If your GP or hospital visit is the result of an accident (broke your leg or whatever) you're charged a lot less.

This works even if you're a tourist.
"If you're injured while visiting New Zealand, we may be able to help you. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a resident.
https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/injuries-we-cover
It just saddens me to see how money-hungry the health system is up there.

A PSMA PET CT Scan is covered by our provincial insurance ( state ) . A private pay clinic in Toronto , of which there are many , charges around $ 5000.00 Can. dollars which equals $$ 3500.00 UD Dollars .
$ 5000.00 Can. which equals $ 3500.00 US Dollars .