Blood test, sodium
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $21
- Cash Discount Price: $7
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.37x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 437% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 337%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wppa [503200056] | $9 - $22 | 187% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $9 - $22 | 187% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $9 - $32 | 187% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $10 - $26 | 208% |
| Aetna | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| Php [503200005] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $13 - $32 | 270% |
| Cigna | $13 - $42 | 270% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $15 - $37 | 312% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $18 - $45 | 374% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $19 - $48 | 395% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for sodium (CPT 84295) at the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus, the facility's cash median price of $7.00 is significantly lower than the state average of $37.00. While commercial insurance negotiated rates range from $9 to $48 depending on the payer, these amounts are often higher than the cash price due to administrative costs and contract structures. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash rate directly, as the insurance negotiated rate could exceed the out-of-pocket cost of paying cash. To secure the lowest possible price, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid upfront.
When reviewing your final invoice, it is critical to request an itemized bill rather than accepting a summary statement that obscures individual charges. Over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, including unbundled codes or services not rendered, and paying a summary bill without verification can lead to unnecessary debt. Additionally, this service's rate is 4.4% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $4.81, which serves as an objective baseline for fair pricing. If you receive a large bill after using insurance, do not pay immediately; instead, dispute the charges in writing and request a No Surprises Act audit if you were balance-billed by an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility.