Compare 139 genetic counselors in Houston, TX. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
139
Genetic Counselors
100%
Accepting patients
28%
Most common: CGC
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on the planet. That single fact shapes everything about healthcare here. If your condition is treatable, someone in Houston can treat it. The challenge is navigating a metro that sprawls across 670 square miles with no zoning laws and limited public transit.
Houston has 139 genetic counselors. The most common credential is CGC (28%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
The Texas Medical Center sits south of downtown, accessible via I-69/US-59, the METRORail Red Line, and the 610 Loop. It contains over 60 institutions within a few square miles. For patients outside the loop, Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, and HCA each operate suburban hospitals in Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Pearland. Getting to any of them means driving, usually on a freeway.
Providers practice throughout Houston. The Heights is a popular residential area with independent practices and easy access to the Medical Center via I-45. Montrose is a diverse, walkable neighborhood with LGBTQ+ affirming care and proximity to the Texas Medical Center. Rice Village is adjacent to Rice University and the Medical Center, with specialist offices concentrated along University Boulevard. Midtown is a dense, central neighborhood with quick light-rail access to the Texas Medical Center.
Nearby hospitals include Houston Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Local training programs run through Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The Texas Medical Center in Houston is the largest medical complex in the world, with over 60 institutions.
A session lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The counselor will draw and analyze your family health history (pedigree), explain the genetic basis of the condition in question, discuss the benefits, limitations, and risks of genetic testing, and help you decide whether testing is right for you. If you have already been tested, the counselor will explain the results in plain language and discuss what they mean for you and your family. Genetic counselors provide emotional support and connect you with resources. They do not pressure you toward any particular decision about testing or treatment.
See a genetic counselor if you are pregnant and want to understand prenatal screening or diagnostic test options, have a family history of cancer (especially breast, ovarian, or colon cancer diagnosed young or in multiple relatives), have a child with a developmental delay or birth defect, are planning a pregnancy and want to understand carrier screening (especially if you and your partner share ancestry from a group with higher rates of certain conditions), received an unexpected result on a direct-to-consumer genetic test, or have a family history of a known genetic condition and want to understand your risk.
Genetic counseling session: $100-400 (often covered by insurance) · Genetic testing: $250-2,000+ (usually covered when medically indicated) · With insurance copay: $20-75 · Direct-to-consumer test: $100-300 (not covered)
Houston, TX has 139 licensed genetic counselors. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of genetic counselors in Houston, TX are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Houston's employer insurance market leans toward Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. Harris Health System (with Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals) serves uninsured residents through its Gold Card financial assistance program. Texas did not expand Medicaid, so coverage gaps are wider here than in states that did. Marketplace plans through healthcare.gov are available with multiple carriers.
A genetic counseling session costs $100 to $400 (often covered by insurance). Genetic testing costs $250 to $2,000+ (usually covered when medically indicated). With insurance copay: $20 to $75. Actual costs in Houston, TX depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Many genetic testing labs offer reduced self-pay pricing ($250 or less) if insurance denies coverage. The genetic counselor will help with pre-authorization and can advise on the most cost-effective testing approach. GINA protects against health insurance discrimination based on genetic results.
Houston's healthcare market is dominated by three systems: Houston Methodist (11 hospitals, strong cardiology and transplant), Memorial Hermann (17 hospitals, the city's largest system by bed count), and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine). MD Anderson operates independently for cancer care. Your choice of PCP within one of these systems shapes your referral path.
CGC stands for Certified Genetic Counselor and MS stands for Master of Science in Genetic Counseling. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Houston, TX, 28% hold the CGC credential and 27% hold MS. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
Some genetic counselors in Houston, TX accept Texas Medicaid, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers genetic counseling and testing for prenatal and cancer indications in most states. Coverage varies for other indications. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Texas Medicaid participation before scheduling.
The Harris Health Gold Card is a financial assistance program for low-income, uninsured Harris County residents. It provides access to care at Ben Taub Hospital, LBJ Hospital, and Harris Health clinics. Eligibility is based on income (generally below 150% of the federal poverty level) and Harris County residency. You apply in person at a Harris Health eligibility office.
No. While the TMC houses globally recognized specialty centers like MD Anderson and Texas Heart Institute, it also has primary care clinics, urgent care, dental offices, and rehabilitation facilities. Many Houstonians use TMC-affiliated providers for routine care, especially if they work nearby.
Top accepted carriers in Houston, TX include unitedhealthcare, qhp-17091, qhp-11718, centene, and qhp-33602.
Genetic counseling sessions are covered by most insurance plans when medically indicated. Medicare covers genetic counseling for hereditary cancer syndromes and prenatal indications. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Genetic testing is covered when ordered based on medical necessity criteria (family history, clinical findings). Pre-authorization is often required for both the counseling visit and the test. If insurance denies coverage for testing, many labs offer reduced self-pay rates or financial assistance programs. The genetic counselor can help navigate coverage and appeals.