Blood test, sodium
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $51
- Cash Discount Price: $40
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.60x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $4.81 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1060% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 960%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 - $7 | 125% |
| Preferred Phsic | $34 | 707% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $46 | 956% |
| Aetna | $51 | 1060% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $51 | 1060% |
| Cigna | $51 | 1060% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $51 | 1060% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for sodium at Salina Regional Health Center, the facility's cash median price of $40.00 is lower than the state average for this procedure. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Preferred Phsic range between $6 and $51, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying out-of-pocket. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary charges can still occur if specific lab components are billed separately; therefore, patients should request a full itemized bill to verify all charges before signing any consent waivers or making payments.
The facility's negotiated rates average $51.00, which is higher than the cash price of $40.00, illustrating that insurance contracts can sometimes result in higher costs than direct payment. To minimize expenses, patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass administrative overhead and lower the final bill. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should review their itemized statements line-by-line to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, rather than accepting summary bills that obscure individual costs.