MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Saint Luke'S South Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,782
- Cash Discount Price: $3,152
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.31x 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 731% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 631%). 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 | $131 - $309 | 54% |
| Humana | $138 - $226 | 57% |
| Aetna | $198 - $4,991 | 81% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $242 - $1,782 | 99% |
| Cigna | $263 - $3,988 | 108% |
| Transplants-Case Rates [5750] | $275 - $5,254 | 113% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $533 - $3,946 | 219% |
| Commercial-Contracted [8000] | $1,439 - $4,250 | 590% |
| First Health [5512] | $3,115 | 1278% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Saint Luke's South Hospital in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash median price of $3,152 is significantly higher than the state average of $829. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and Cigna have negotiated rates ranging from $198 to nearly $4,000, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash price. It is crucial to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the total cost by bypassing administrative claim processing costs.
The facility's negotiated rates vary widely across payers, with the lowest commercial rate found at $131 for Medicaid/KanCare and the highest at $5,254 for Transplants-Case Rates. When comparing these figures to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, the commercial negotiated rates often reflect a markup that exceeds typical fair pricing standards. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills without requesting a full itemized audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, and they should verify their deductible status before relying on insurance to ensure they are not paying the full negotiated amount out of pocket.