MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $476
- Cash Discount Price: $578
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.95x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $476 | 195% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $476 | 195% |
| Humana | $476 | 195% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $476 | 195% |
| Aetna | $476 | 195% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For an MRI of the brain without contrast at Ellinwood District Hospital in Kansas, the negotiated rate for most major insurers, including Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana, is $476. This amount is significantly lower than the facility's gross chargemaster price of $680, reflecting standard insurance contracts that cap costs. However, the cash median price for self-pay patients is $578, which is higher than the negotiated rate but still below the gross charge. It is important to note that while cash payments can sometimes be cheaper for those with high-deductible plans, in this specific case, the insurance negotiated rate of $476 is lower than the cash price, meaning using insurance would likely result in a lower out-of-pocket cost for the patient.
Patients should be aware that commercial rates for this procedure are benchmarked against the Medicare amount of $243.77, which serves as a baseline for fair pricing. While the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact code, the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Ellinwood, KS, and its ownership is a Government Hospital District. To ensure you are not overcharged, you should request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. Additionally, if you are paying out-of-network or receive a surprise bill, you have protections under the No Surprises Act, which may allow you to dispute the balance billed immediately rather than paying the full amount upfront.