Blood test, sodium
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $64
- Cash Discount Price: $51
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 13.31x 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 $4.81 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 1331% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1231%). 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 | $57 | 1185% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $61 | 1268% |
| Aetna | $61 | 1268% |
| First Health - All Plans | $64 | 1331% |
| Cigna | $64 | 1331% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $64 | 1331% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $64 | 1331% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for sodium (CPT code 84295) at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $51.00, which is lower than the state average of $64.00. While many commercial payers negotiate a rate of $64.00, this is higher than the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash rate directly. The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, lists a cash median of $51.00, and patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling to ensure they are not charged the full negotiated amount.
It is important to note that commercial insurance contracts often result in negotiated rates exceeding cash prices due to administrative costs and contract dynamics. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized bill to confirm all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are advised to dispute any discrepancies in writing rather than accepting summary bills or verbal settlements, ensuring they only pay the correct amount for the service provided.