Improved patient access
- Personalized MRD testing made accessible to help guide treatment decisions
- Signatera™ is a tumor-informed MRD test to detect cancer recurrence earlier with Medicare coverage for multiple solid tumor cancers
- Support treatment decisions with comprehensive tumor profiling
- Altera™ allows clinicians to gain deep insight into the tumor’s genomic alterations and oncology biomarkers with broad coverage for advanced stage patients
- Hereditary cancer testing
- Empower™ screens for genes associated with increased risk for common hereditary cancers with broad patient access
- Natera has robust financial assistance programs that can be offered to qualified patients to ensure that cost is not a barrier to testing
When Is Signatera Used?
Our commitment is to expand patient access to personalized and tumor-informed testing to help guide treatment decisions. Signatera™ is a tool that allows physicians to stratify their high-risk patients, closely monitor the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy and detect relapse earlier than conventional tools. Signatera™ is a custom-built and tumor informed molecular residual disease (MRD) assay used to inform the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), enabling physicians to get in front of disease that may potentially improve patient outcomes.
Signatera™ coverage in multiple solid tumor cancers:
- Risk Stratification
After biopsy or surgical resection to inform surgical and adjuvant therapy decisions - Recurrence monitoring
To find early signs of a cancer recurrence in patients with a previous cancer diagnosis - Therapeutic response
To monitor the cancer’s response to treatment like immunotherapy (IO) on a molecular level
Natera accepts commercial and public insurances
Signatera Medicare Coverage
- Signatera™ is covered by Medicare for monitoring disease progression, disease recurrence, or relapse for patients with:
- Stage II-IV and oligometastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in the adjuvant and recurrence monitoring settings
- Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in the adjuvant and recurrence monitoring settings
- Stage II-IV breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting, regardless of subtype
- Stage IIb and higher breast cancer in the adjuvant and recurrence monitoring settings
- Stage II-IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer in the adjuvant and recurrence monitoring settings
- For monitoring of response to immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for patients with any solid tumors
- Other indications are welcome however an ABN is required
Altera Medicare Coverage
Please note, Altera testing is covered only if the Altera NGS test has not been previously ordered for the patient’s same primary diagnosis of cancer.
Empower Medicare Coverage
Natera is an in-network provider with most health plans, including Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. Natera also offers self-pay pricing and compassionate care option
Read more in our Billing Guide
Learn about insurance and billing guidance for Signatera and Altera testing.
Compliance with Medicare Billing Rules
When providing services to Medicare beneficiaries, laboratories, including Natera, must adhere to billing regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including the “Date of Service” regulation (42 C.F.R. §414.510).
Reach out to Natera billing for support with coverage
Commercial insurance
- We welcome all insurance plans**
- We will work with patients so that cost is not a barrier for testing
- We offer an affordable cash pay rate for those patients who do not wish to use insurance (exclusions may apply)
- For additional questions regarding cost, Natera’s billing phone number is 1-844-384-2996. Support is available between 7 am – 7 pm Central Time, Monday-Friday, for questions about your Natera genetic and carrier testing bill.
Compassionate Care Program
Signatera™ FAQs
When is my payment due?
Payment is due 30 days after Natera billing issues you a bill for any out-of-pocket costs. The issue date is listed on your genetic testing bill.
If Natera is in-network for my insurance plan, will the cost of testing be 100% covered?
Natera being designated as in-network for your insurance plan may help reduce your Natera genetic testing bill. However, Natera being in-network does not guarantee that 100% of the cost of testing will be covered. The total amount billed to you depends on your specific insurance plan. We recommend contacting your plan’s Member Services department for coverage questions (the number for Member Services is usually found on the back of your insurance card).
Why did I receive an Explanation of Benefits with a higher total than my initial estimate?
After your Natera test has been completed, a claim has been submitted, and your insurance company has processed it, your insurer will send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) document. An EOB is not a bill, even though it may look like one. It provides an outline of the claim amount and the amount that your plan covers. Even though it contains an amount that you may be expected to pay, this amount is not final and may not include additional discounts from Natera. Your genetic testing bill from Natera will provide the final amount due.
What if I cannot afford the cost of genetic testing?
If you need help covering your expected Natera genetic and carrier testing bill, we offer financial assistance programs for individuals and families who qualify. You can apply for financial assistance using this webform. For additional questions regarding cost, Natera’s billing phone number is 1-844-384-2996. Support is available between 8 am – 7 pm Central Time, Monday-Friday, for questions about your Natera genetic and carrier testing bill.
At Natera, we understand that billing processes can be confusing
For questions about your Natera genetic testing bill or financial assistance, please contact Natera’s Patient Coordinators.
PHONE
FAX
*Please contact us for more information on when an ABN is required
**Please refer to our website for In-Network plans that we participate with or call your insurance company
References
1Reinert T, Henriksen TV, Christensen E, et al. Analysis of plasma cell-free DNA by ultradeep sequencing in patients with stages I to III colorectal cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(8):1124–1131
2Bratman SV, Yang SYC, Iafolla MAJ, et al. Personalized circulating tumor DNA analysis as a predictive biomarker in solid tumor patients treated with pembrolizumab. Nat. Cancer. 2020