Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Myth: genetic testing is only for the rich | CION Cancer Clinics
Genetic testing is not only for wealthy families. It costs real money, and prices have fallen a long way. Testing in the right order, starting with the relative who has cancer, keeps the cost down for everyone else. This page explains where the money goes, which schemes, programmes and policies can help, and why the biggest saving is often learning you do not need a test. At CION Cancer Clinics, our team helps carriers and their families plan checks, next steps and support after a genetic result.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Is genetic testing only for families who can afford it?
- Which routes can make genetic testing more affordable?
- How can a family plan the cost before testing?
- The words you will see on a price list, in plain language
- Where the money goes, and how to spend less of it
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things families assume about the cost of testing
- Common questions about paying for genetic testing
The short answer
Is genetic testing only for families who can afford it?
No. Genetic testing costs real money, and it is far more affordable than it used to be. Prices have fallen a long way as the technology became cheaper. Testing a relative for a fault already found in the family costs much less than the first test, and many people who worry about the cost do not need a test at all.
The order of testing decides most of the cost
The cheapest route is usually the one a counsellor plans. Test the relative who already has cancer first. If a fault is found, everyone else is tested for that single fault only. If nothing is found, healthy relatives often need no test. Families who skip this step and test several people with large panels pay far more than they need to.
Where cost is a genuine barrier
It would be wrong to pretend money never matters. Counselling visits, travel from a district, time off work and repeat appointments all add up. For a carrier, years of screening afterwards often cost more than the test itself. Planning for that from the start is part of good counselling. Families travelling from Warangal, Nizamabad or Khammam can often combine counselling, the sample and a clinic visit in one trip.
Ask what the whole journey will cost, not only the test.Ways to lower the cost
Which routes can make genetic testing more affordable?
None of these works for everyone. Most families can use at least one, and some can combine two. Ask about all four before the first sample is taken, because cover is much easier to arrange in advance.
Testing in the right order
The relative with cancer is tested first, usually with a panel of several genes. Relatives then need only a test for the one fault found, which costs far less.
Government schemes
Aarogyasri and Ayushman Bharat cover cancer treatment for eligible families. Whether they pay for a particular genetic test varies and changes, so ask the scheme desk before the sample is sent.
Sponsored and research programmes
Some laboratories, drug makers and research studies offer free or subsidised testing for patients who meet their criteria, especially when the result decides treatment.
These programmes change often. Ask your oncologist what is running now.Health insurance
Some policies pay for a test ordered as part of cancer treatment. Few pay for testing healthy relatives. Read the policy wording, and talk to your counsellor about timing before any healthy relative is tested.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistBefore you pay
How can a family plan the cost before testing?
Ask whether a test is needed at all
A counsellor may tell you the family history does not call for one. That answer saves the most money of all.
Ask who should be tested first
Usually the relative who has had cancer. Their result decides what, if anything, everyone else needs.
Ask what the price includes
Counselling before and after, checks for larger missing pieces of a gene, the written report and any later re-analysis. Quotes that look cheaper sometimes leave these out.
Check scheme and insurance cover
Do this before the sample goes to the laboratory. Cover decided afterwards is much harder to claim.
Plan for what comes after
Tests for relatives, and screening for anyone found to carry a fault, are costs that follow a positive result.
On a quote
The words you will see on a price list, in plain language
- Multigene panel
- One test that looks at several genes at once. Usually the first test for someone who has cancer.
- Single-site testing
- A test for one known family fault only. It is used for relatives once a fault is found, and costs far less.
- Cascade testing
- Offering that single-site test to relatives, one branch of the family at a time.
- Pre-test counselling
- The appointment before a test, where the counsellor decides who and what to test. Some centres charge for it separately.
- Accredited laboratory
- A laboratory checked against quality standards, such as NABL in India. It is one thing worth checking before comparing prices.
- Re-analysis
- Looking at old test data again as knowledge grows. Some laboratories offer it later, so ask whether yours does.
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Side by side
Where the money goes, and how to spend less of it
Where the money goes
How to reduce it
The first test on the relative with cancer
Choose the panel that fits the question, not the largest
Tests for each relative
Single-site tests for the known fault only
Counselling appointments
Ask whether counselling is included in the price
Travel from a district
Ask about telephone or video counselling
Screening after a positive result
Ask which scans your scheme or policy covers
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot give you a price. Costs vary by laboratory, by the test chosen and by what is bundled in, and they change over time. A written quote from the laboratory, checked with your counsellor, is the only figure worth planning around.
It cannot confirm your cover
Scheme rules and insurance policies differ, and they change. Only the scheme desk or your insurer can confirm what you will be reimbursed. Ask them in writing where you can, before the test is done.
Who this does not apply to
Most people do not need a genetic test at all. If your family has one relative diagnosed at an older age and no pattern of young or rare cancers, paying for a test is unlikely to change anything for you. The real waste is a test nobody needed, especially an online kit bought without advice.
Once a result is back, what your specific variant means is a question for the counsellor who ordered the test.Commonly believed
Four things families assume about the cost of testing
"Genetic testing is only for rich families."
It costs money, and prices have fallen a long way as the technology became cheaper. The most affordable route is usually the one a counsellor plans, starting with the right person.
"The biggest test is the best value."
Larger panels find more uncertain results, which can bring extra appointments and worry. The right test is the one that answers your family's actual question.
"Every relative will have to pay the full price."
Once a fault is found, relatives are usually tested for that one fault only, at a much lower price. The first test does most of the work.
"A cheap online kit is just as good."
Consumer kits often check only a few spots in a few genes, and can miss faults a clinical test would find. A reassuring kit result is not the same as a clinical negative.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about paying for genetic testing
How much does genetic testing cost in India?
It depends on the test, the laboratory and what is included. A single-site test for a known family fault costs much less than a first multigene panel. Ask for a written quote that lists counselling, the report and any extra analysis.
Does Aarogyasri cover genetic testing?
Aarogyasri covers many cancer treatments for eligible families in Telangana. Cover for a specific genetic test is less clear and can change. Ask the Aarogyasri desk or your counsellor before the sample is sent.
Does Ayushman Bharat pay for BRCA testing?
Ayushman Bharat packages are built around treatment, and cover for a standalone genetic test varies. Check with the scheme desk at the hospital before testing, so a bill does not arrive as a surprise.
Will my health insurance pay for a genetic test?
Some policies pay when the test is part of treatment for a diagnosed cancer. Few pay for testing healthy relatives. Read your policy wording or ask the insurer, and talk to your counsellor about timing before a healthy relative is tested.
Are there free genetic testing programmes?
Sometimes. Research studies, and some laboratory or drug company programmes, offer free or subsidised testing to patients who meet their criteria. These change often, so ask your oncologist what is running now.
Is counselling charged separately from the test?
At some centres it is included, and at others it is billed on its own. Ask before booking. Counselling is where much of the value lies, because it decides who is tested and explains what the result means.
Why test the relative with cancer first?
Because it tells the whole family whether there is a fault to look for. If one is found, every relative after that needs only a cheaper single-site test. If none is found, healthy relatives may not need testing at all.
Who can help us plan the cost?
A genetic counsellor, your oncologist, and the hospital's scheme or insurance desk. If you are unsure where to begin, call the CION helpline and someone will explain the options that apply to you.
Your Specialists
Meet CION's oncologists. Bring your family history or genetic report to them.
Our medical oncologists see people with a strong family history of cancer, arrange genetic counselling and testing where it fits, and plan the checks that follow.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
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Sources
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What is the cost of genetic testing, and how long does it take to get the results?
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- National Cancer Institute — BRCA Gene Changes: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing
- National Health Authority — Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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