CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Saint Luke'S South Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $1,009
- Cash Discount Price: $3,903
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.63x 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 $179.2 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 563% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 463%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $101 - $228 | 56% |
| Humana | $103 - $169 | 57% |
| Aetna | $131 - $6,180 | 73% |
| Transplants-Case Rates [5750] | $182 - $6,505 | 102% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $187 - $1,009 | 104% |
| Cigna | $197 - $4,937 | 110% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $240 - $4,885 | 134% |
| Commercial-Contracted [8000] | $959 - $5,263 | 535% |
| First Health [5512] | $3,856 | 2152% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head with contrast at Saint Luke's South Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, the cash price is $3,903, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $6,505. While this cash rate is higher than the state average, it is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to most insurance plans, such as the $1,009 average negotiated rate for Humana or the $5,263 maximum for Aetna. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overheads that inflate prices, paying cash upfront can sometimes result in a lower out-of-pocket cost compared to what your insurance will allow, especially if you have a high deductible. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill.
It is important to understand that insurance companies negotiate maximum rates for services, which can sometimes exceed the cash price due to multi-layered administrative costs and contract dynamics. If you are billed for the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance payment, this is known as balance billing, though the No Surprises Act protects patients from such surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary bills may hide unbundled codes or services not rendered. Disputing errors in writing is the most effective way to reduce medical debt, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected through a formal audit.