Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 83036 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83036
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $53
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.40x 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 $9.71 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 340% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 240%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $9 - $78 | 93% |
| Cigna | $10 - $13 | 103% |
| Kansas Health | $10 | 103% |
| Humana | $10 | 103% |
| Innovage | $10 | 103% |
| Aetna | $10 - $106 | 103% |
| Medicare (plans) | $10 | 103% |
| Devoted Health | $10 | 103% |
| Kaiser | $10 - $39 | 103% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 - $43 | 103% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $12 | 124% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $15 | 154% |
| Direct To Employer | $17 - $56 | 175% |
| Denver Health | $33 | 340% |
| Peak Health | $55 | 566% |
| Wpaa | $88 | 906% |
| Multiplan | $98 - $119 | 1009% |
| Christian Health Aid | $101 | 1040% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $122 | 1256% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood sugar test (CPT 83036) at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, KS, the facility's cash median price of $53.00 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates paid by major insurers, which range from $9 to $119 depending on the plan. While Medicare reimburses $9.71 for this service, commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna negotiate rates that can exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying out-of-pocket or utilizing prompt-pay discounts rather than relying on insurance. It is important to note that while Kaiser provides an internal rate of $10, this is not a typical negotiated rate, and other carriers like Multiplan and Wpaa charge substantially higher amounts, highlighting the wide variation in commercial pricing.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and do not reflect the true cost of care, which is better represented by the Medicare benchmark of $9.71. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital, its negotiated rates can still be inflated compared to the state average, and some out-of-network scenarios could theoretically lead to balance billing, though the No Surprises Act protects many emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure you receive the best possible price, we recommend requesting a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling, as paying upfront can bypass the costly claims processing that inflates insurance rates. Always verify your specific plan's deductible status and ask for an itemized bill to avoid unexpected charges or errors.