MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Overland Park Reg Med Ctr
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,074
- Cash Discount Price: $13,972
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.41x 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 $243.77 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 441% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 341%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| United | $131 - $6,287 | 54% |
| Amerigroup | $131 | 54% |
| Healthyblue | $134 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 55% |
| Unicare | $136 | 56% |
| Aetna | $136 - $7,126 | 56% |
| Multiplan | $205 - $10,339 | 84% |
| Home State Health Plan | $216 | 89% |
| Corvel Corporation | $243 - $9,082 | 100% |
| Oha Network | $254 - $6,986 | 104% |
| Cigna | $272 - $404 | 112% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $716 - $6,008 | 294% |
| Humana | $803 - $1,037 | 329% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,599 | 1066% |
| Nhc Advantage | $2,655 | 1089% |
| Wppa Providrs Care Network | $2,794 | 1146% |
| Universal Healthcare | $4,890 | 2006% |
| Coventry | $5,617 | 2304% |
| Coventry Kc Mo | $5,729 | 2350% |
| College Park Family Care Center | $6,008 | 2465% |
| Triwest Health Alliance | $10,479 | 4299% |
| Cco, Inc. | $10,479 | 4299% |
| Focus Healthcare Mgmt, Inc | $10,479 | 4299% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Overland Park Reg Med Ctr in Kansas, the cash price is $13,972.00, which matches the facility's cash median. While the facility's negotiated rates vary significantly by payer—ranging from $131 for Amerigroup to $10,479 for Triwest Health Alliance—these amounts are generally higher than the cash price. This is a common scenario where paying out-of-pocket can be more cost-effective than using insurance, especially for patients with high deductibles, as the insurer's allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rates are not directly comparable to state or county averages in this dataset, but the cash price serves as a reliable baseline for self-pay patients.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher costs than cash payments due to administrative overhead and multi-layered pricing structures. If you have insurance, verify your specific plan's negotiated rate before scheduling, as some in-network plans may pay significantly less than others. Additionally, consider asking the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. If you are billed by an out-of-network provider despite receiving care at this in-network facility, you may be eligible for protections under the No Surprises Act, which prevents balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services. Always request a detailed, itemized bill to ensure no errors exist before finalizing payment.