Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $154
- Cash Discount Price: $122
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.50x 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 $13.39 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 1150% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1050%). 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 | $138 | 1031% |
| Aetna | $146 | 1090% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $146 | 1090% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $154 | 1150% |
| Cigna | $154 | 1150% |
| First Health - All Plans | $154 | 1150% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $154 | 1150% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) service at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's negotiated rate of $154 aligns with the median paid amount across seven payers, including Rural Carriers, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. This negotiated rate is 11.5% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.39, which serves as the federal baseline for cost. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should note that the cash price of $122 is significantly lower than the insurance negotiated rate. For individuals with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price upfront may result in substantial savings compared to the $154 allowed by their insurance, provided they secure a prompt-pay discount before the claim is submitted.
To maximize potential savings, patients should explicitly request self-pay or prompt-pay rates prior to scheduling their visit, as billing systems often default to insurance processing once a card is on file. It is important to understand that prompt-pay discounts, which can range from 20% to 50%, are incentives for immediate payment that bypass costly administrative claims processing. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should always review their itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges exist. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a full line-by-line itemized statement before paying is the most effective way to verify that all services rendered match the charges and to identify any opportunities for further reduction.