FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

For Patients

UNITY is ordered by your healthcare provider. If you decide you want UNITY, we are here to help. Please call us at 650-460-2551 or email us at [email protected].

We accept ALL insurances, including Medicaid. Our testing options follow standard-of-care guidelines and are a covered benefit by most insurances, including Medicaid. Since each insurance plan is different, we will contact you with a text message or phone call about your out-of-pocket costs. We also offer financial assistance programs that are quick and easy. We believe every pregnant patient has the right to choose UNITY without worrying about a surprise bill. If you have any questions or concerns with costs, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 650-460-2551.

From a single blood draw, UNITY can:

  • Determine if you are a carrier for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia, beta thalassemia, and fragile x syndrome.
  • If you are a carrier, while you are not affected, your baby could be at risk to inherit one of these conditions.
  • If you are a carrier, UNITY will automatically assess your baby’s risk for these conditions. For fragile x, while we are unable to report the number of CGGs your baby has, we will provide the fetal sex for all fragile x carrier results since boys typically have more severe symptoms.
  • Screen the baby for aneuploidies including trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), 18 (Edwards syndrome), 13 (Patau syndrome); and sex chromosome aneuploidy.
  • Determine fetal sex and fetal RhD status (applicable for Rh negative mothers) or presence of other fetal antigens (only for alloimmunized patients).

UNITY automatically assesses your baby’s risk (using your original blood sample) for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia, and beta thalassemia if you are determined to be a carrier. For fragile x, while UNITY is unable to directly assess fetal risk, the baby’s sex is reported as males typcially have more sever symptoms.

UNITY can be ordered at 10+ weeks into pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends every pregnant woman be offered carrier screening and fetal aneuploidy screening for the conditions included on UNITY. Our test includes genetic conditions that are common and severe. Many conditions benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. You do not need to have a family history of these conditions for UNITY to be an appropriate screening test for you. In fact, aneuploidies are not passed down from generation to generation and happen randomly.

As UNITY uses diverse and advanced technologies to screen for recessive conditions and aneuploidies, timing of results may vary depending on what your doctor orders. UNITY aneuploidy NIPT results are returned within seven days of lab receipt. Most UNITY carrier screen and single-gene NIPT results are returned within 14 days from lab receipt. If fragile x is ordered, you may receive additional reports shortly after your initial carrier screening result. If fetal antigens are added, they are returned with the aneuploidy NIPT results. 

Your doctor will review results with you and discuss options for next steps, which may include additional testing as well as a conversation with a genetic counselor. Your provider may refer you to another office in your area for follow-up or you can call us at 650-460-2551 to schedule an appointment with one of our Certified Genetic Counselors.
Yes, we provide genetic counseling at no charge. To schedule an appointment with a Certified Genetic Counselor, please call at 650-460-2551 or email us at [email protected]. We are here to help you every step of the way.

After your provider has ordered the UNITY test from BillionToOne, we work with your insurance to determine what your out-of-pocket cost may be. Each insurance policy has their own guidelines and the coverage can vary for each patient.

BillionToOne only bills your insurance for what is typically considered a covered benefit. Depending on your insurance plan, there may be copayments and deductibles. Our billing services team will guide you through every step to ensure you never receive a “surprise” bill.

We take a proactive approach and are happy to speak with you before or after the test at [email protected] or 650-460-2551.

Yes. BillionToOne is committed to making genetic testing accessible to all. We offer financial assistance depending on household size and income. You may view our Financial Assistance Form (https://unityscreen.com/support-for-patients/) to see if you qualify for financial assistance. In the event that you have an out-of-pocket cost after insurance is billed, this can be sent to you by our financial services team to complete.

After your test has been processed and a claim is submitted to your insurance, you may receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). An EOB is not a bill, even though it may look like one. This document is from your insurance and shows details like how much was billed to your insurance for your test; what the insurance reimbursed BillionToOne; and the specifics of your insurance plan (deductible), if applicable.

There is no action you need to take on an EOB. BillionToOne will send a final bill with any remaining balance after you receive an EOB.

The first EOB is typically received 30-60 days after blood draw. You may receive more than one EOB throughout the process (if, for example, BillionToOne appealed and the insurance provider covered more after the initial EOB). Then a bill outlining any remaining cost will come from BillionToOne after the claim is finalized which may be up to a few months after your test.

If you decide to not use your insurance, BillionToOne offers the UNITY test at a cash pay rate. This includes carrier screening, reflex to fetal risk assessment for recessive conditions when needed, fetal aneuploidy screening, and optional fetal RhD status. Our billing services team is available to discuss this cost and can be reached at [email protected] or 650-460-2551.

Please email or call us at [email protected] or 650-460-2551.