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Is free PSA good or bad?

Free PSA is neither good nor bad, but an alteration in the free PSA reading may indicate a risk of prostate cancer and a need for further testing. Your healthcare provider will look at the ratio of free to total PSA in determining risk for prostate cancer. A higher ratio of free to total PSA indicates lower risk, while a low ratio indicates a higher risk of prostate cancer. PSA levels alone can not confirm the diagnosis, so your healthcare provider will recommend further testing. 

The PSA levels may be altered by other factors. Some of these include:

  • Enlarged prostate gland
  • Anal sex
  • Prostate stimulation during a rectal examination
  • Ejaculation
  • Certain medications
  • Exercise
  • Urinary tract or bladder infections
  • Prostate infection or prostatitis

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.