This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Cost is usually the first question people have about STD testing in Austin, Texas, right after "where do I go." The good news is that Austin has more than one path to an affordable test, whether you have private insurance, Medicaid, no coverage at all, or just don't want to use insurance for this particular visit. This guide walks through the practical steps for finding and paying for testing, in order, so you can walk into an appointment knowing what to expect.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Your insurance card, if you have one, or your Medicaid ID
A general sense of your household income, if you plan to ask about a sliding-scale fee
A photo ID (many clinics ask for one, though public health clinics generally don't require it for testing)
A phone to call the clinic ahead of your visit
A note of any symptoms you're having, if any, since that can change which tests are offered

Step-by-Step: Finding and Paying for STD Testing in Austin, Texas

1. Check what your insurance already covers

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for people ages 15 to 65, and chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and others at higher risk. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover USPSTF-recommended preventive services, including these screenings, without a copay when you see an in-network provider. Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask specifically whether STI screening is covered as a preventive service, and whether that applies at the clinic you're considering.

2. If you're uninsured or underinsured, look at Austin's sliding-scale and flat-fee clinics

Several Austin clinics are built for people paying out of pocket. The Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, charges a flat fee of $30 for testing and treatment, according to Austin Public Health. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth Program at the Hancock Health Center uses a sliding fee scale set after a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist, per CommUnityCare. ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, at 3100 Red River St, states on its own site that its STI testing services are always free, though related medication may carry a cost. Vivent Health's Austin location says HIV testing is free at all of its sites.

3. Decide whether a free mail-order test fits your situation

If getting to a clinic is the bigger obstacle than cost, Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, a free mail-order self-testing program for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, ordered at testfortexas.org. Vivent Health also distributes free at-home HIV test kits through its online depot for Texas residents. These are a reasonable way to get a first read, though a positive or unclear result from a self-test should still be followed up with a clinician.

4. Call the clinic before you go

Austin Public Health notes on its own site that content updates may be delayed, so confirm current hours and fees by phone before you show up. The Sexual Health Clinic's listed hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m., and appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 512-972-5430. Kind Clinic's Koenig location offers walk-in testing, but hours vary by day and the clinic is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of every month, according to Kind Clinic. A two-minute call saves a wasted trip.

5. Bring what the sliding-scale clinic asks for

If you're applying for a sliding-scale fee at CommUnityCare, expect a short meeting with a financial eligibility specialist rather than a form you fill out alone. Having a rough idea of your household size and income ready will make that conversation faster. If a clinic's cost structure isn't published, such as walk-in availability or exact pricing at some locations, ask the clinic directly rather than guessing.

6. If you're a teenager, know that you can consent on your own

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age can consent to testing and treatment for a reportable infectious disease, which covers STIs and HIV, without a parent's permission. The same law does allow a physician to choose to tell a parent about the visit, with or without the minor's consent, so it's worth asking the clinic how they typically handle that before your appointment.

7. Ask about other prevention services while you're there

Many of the clinics that offer low-cost or sliding-scale testing also offer related prevention services during the same visit, such as PrEP, PEP, or doxy-PEP, which the CDC has recommended since 2024 for certain groups after a possible exposure. CommUnityCare and Kind Clinic both list doxy-PEP among their services, and ASHwell and Vivent Health offer PrEP support. Asking about these at the same appointment can save you a second visit.

8. Compare your options before you book

Once you know your insurance status and rough budget, it helps to compare clinics side by side before committing to one.

Clinic	Cost approach	Source
Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic	Flat $30 fee for testing and treatment	Austin Public Health
CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program	Sliding fee scale based on income	CommUnityCare
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness	Testing services listed as free	ASHwell
Vivent Health - Austin	HIV testing listed as free	Vivent Health
Kind Clinic - Austin Koenig	Insurance billed; assistance program for uninsured patients	Kind Clinic

For a fuller breakdown of what each visit might cost and what's included, see our guide to where to get tested in Austin and what it costs. You can also review the local testing sites directly on our list of Austin clinics before you call.

Tips

Ask upfront whether a visit will generate an insurance statement that goes to a policyholder other than you, if that matters for your privacy. Billing practices vary by insurer, so the clinic or your plan can tell you how it's handled.
Don't skip a clinic because you assume it's out of your price range. A $30 flat fee or a sliding scale can end up costing less than people expect.
If you have symptoms, say so when you call. Austin Public Health notes it can only test for genital herpes when symptoms are present, so mentioning symptoms ahead of time helps the clinic plan the right visit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Showing up without calling first. Hours and walk-in availability change, and some clinics close on specific days each month.
Assuming all clinics offer the same tests. Standard panels vary by site, so ask what's included before you go.
Forgetting to ask about sliding-scale options because a clinic's website doesn't list a price. If a cost isn't published, the clinic or Austin Public Health can tell you directly rather than you guessing or skipping care.
Treating a self-test result as a final answer. A self-test can give you information, but a clinician is who can interpret it and talk through next steps.

What You Can Expect

Following these steps may help you find a testing option that fits your budget, though exact costs, wait times, and available tests can vary by clinic and by visit. A test can tell you and your clinician useful information, and bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are generally curable with treatment from a clinician, while HIV, herpes, and HPV are managed as ongoing, treatable conditions. Results and next steps are best discussed directly with the clinic or clinician who tested you.

STD Testing in Austin, Texas: Insurance and Sliding-Scale Options