Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $72
- Cash Discount Price: $57
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.75x 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 $6.7 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 1075% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 975%). 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 | $64 | 955% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $68 | 1015% |
| Aetna | $68 | 1015% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $72 | 1075% |
| Cigna | $72 | 1075% |
| First Health - All Plans | $72 | 1075% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $72 | 1075% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the negotiated rates for in-network insurance plans range from $64 to $72, with a median paid amount of $72.00. This negotiated rate is notably higher than the facility's cash median price of $57.00, illustrating a common scenario where paying out-of-pocket upfront can result in significant savings compared to standard insurance billing. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should verify their specific plan details, as commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the final bill beyond the actual cost of the service.
To maximize potential savings, patients with high-deductible plans should consider asking the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. It is crucial to request self-pay classification and a waiver of insurance submission prior to check-in to avoid automatic claims processing that voids these discounts. Additionally, since the facility is located in a rural area with limited payer diversity, consumers should review their itemized bill for any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.