Blood test, sodium
Facility: Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $5
- Cash Discount Price: $10
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.04x 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.
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 | $2 - $5 | 42% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5 - $7 | 104% |
| Triwest | $5 | 104% |
| Aetna | $5 - $10 | 104% |
| Cigna | $8 | 166% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 84295, a blood test for sodium at Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $10.00, which matches the facility's negotiated median rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $4.81, reflecting a markup common in commercial billing where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price upfront more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rate of $10.00 exceeds the cash option and could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the patient's deductible has not yet been met.
To minimize costs, patients should verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid in full before or shortly after the service. It is also important to request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered are included in the final charge, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies. Since the data provided does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this code, patients should rely on the Medicare benchmark as the objective baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure rather than the gross charge list.