Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $13
- Cash Discount Price: $619
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.54x 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 $8.46 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| First Health | $1 - $569 | 12% |
| United | $1 - $555 | 12% |
| Aetna | $1 - $441 | 12% |
| Multiplan | $2 - $1,111 | 24% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $2 - $802 | 24% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $2 - $617 | 24% |
| Usa Managed Care | $3 - $1,049 | 35% |
| Devoted Health | $8 | 95% |
| Humana | $8 | 95% |
| Coventry Health Care | $8 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $8 | 95% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $9 - $222 | 106% |
| Triwest Health Alliance | $9 | 106% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $9 | 106% |
| Amerigroup | $9 | 106% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $13 | 154% |
| Correct Care Solutions | $13 | 154% |
| Wppa | $215 | 2541% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $233 | 2754% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $233 | 2754% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $395 | 4669% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price of $619 is significantly higher than the state average, which is reflected in a 1.5x markup compared to Medicare's base rate of $8.46. While commercial insurance plans like First Health and United offer negotiated rates ranging from $1 to $569, these amounts often exceed the cash price for patients with high-deductible plans. Because insurance billing involves complex administrative layers that can inflate costs by 20% to 40%, paying cash upfront can sometimes result in a lower total out-of-pocket expense than what your insurance would allow. We recommend verifying your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts may pay less than the facility's cash rate.
To minimize your financial burden, we strongly suggest asking the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before your visit, as these programs can reduce bills by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing. If you do use insurance, be aware that you may face balance billing if the provider bills you for the difference between their full charge and your insurer's allowed amount, though federal protections like the No Surprises Act limit this for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Finally, always request a detailed, itemized bill rather than a summary invoice to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through a formal written audit.