Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $2
- Cash Discount Price: $22
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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 $2.37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $1 - $2 | 42% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $2 - $7 | 84% |
| Aetna | $2 - $8 | 84% |
| Triwest | $2 | 84% |
| Cigna | $4 | 169% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test (CPT 85018) at Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $22.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $2.00 for in-network payers like UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Triwest, and Cigna. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, the cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $2.37, suggesting that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying cash upfront could result in lower total costs compared to insurance claims that may exceed the cash price. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full cash price of $22.00 might be more economical than the negotiated rates billed to insurance carriers.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is important to understand that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled charges. If you receive a bill for this service, you should request a full itemized statement showing the specific CPT code and unit costs before agreeing to any payment plan. Additionally, if you are an out-of-network patient or if ancillary services were provided by out-of-network providers, you may be subject to balance billing for the difference between the allowed amount and the facility's chargemaster rate. However, under the No Surprises Act, balance billing is prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, so you should dispute any unexpected bills immediately and request a formal audit from the billing supervisor rather than signing away your rights