Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $101
- Cash Discount Price: $80
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.94x 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 $8.46 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 1194% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1094%). 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 | $90 | 1064% |
| Aetna | $96 | 1135% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $96 | 1135% |
| First Health - All Plans | $101 | 1194% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $101 | 1194% |
| Cigna | $101 | 1194% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $101 | 1194% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Jewell County Hospital, the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare average $101. This amount is slightly higher than the facility's cash median of $80 and aligns with the median negotiated rate of $101 observed across the state. While commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that can inflate prices by 20% to 40% compared to cash, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price of $80 more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Mankato, KS, and owned by the local government, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting a deductible can result in significant out-of-pocket costs.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates are contractually agreed-upon ceilings designed to protect in-network members, but they do not always represent the lowest possible price. If you are self-paying or have a plan with a high deductible, you should explicitly ask the hospital for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. Additionally, if you receive a summary bill from your insurer showing a broad category total, you should request a full itemized CPT-coded statement to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges before agreeing to pay. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, obtaining a detailed line-by-line review is the most effective way to ensure you are not overcharged for services rendered.