Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 83036 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83036
- Insurance Median: $88
- Cash Discount Price: $69
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.06x 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 $9.71 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 906% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 806%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers - All Plans | $78 | 803% |
| Aetna | $83 | 855% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $83 | 855% |
| Cigna | $88 | 906% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $88 | 906% |
| First Health - All Plans | $88 | 906% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $88 | 906% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood sugar (A1c) test at Jewell County Hospital, the cash median price is $69.00, which is lower than the negotiated rate of $88.00 paid by insurance carriers. While the facility's negotiated rate of $88.00 matches the state average for this service, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price of $69.00 more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. Because the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Mankato, KS, and is owned by the local government, it is recommended to explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
When evaluating costs, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charge list. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $9.71, meaning the cash price of $69.00 represents a markup of approximately 710% over the federal baseline, while the negotiated rate of $88.00 sits at roughly 900%. This significant difference highlights that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract premiums that do not reflect the true cost of care. To ensure you are not overpaying, request a detailed itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unnecessary services were included.