CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,140
- Cash Discount Price: $900
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.67x 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 $106.81 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 1067% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 967%). 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 | $1,020 | 955% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $1,080 | 1011% |
| Aetna | $1,080 | 1011% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,140 | 1067% |
| First Health - All Plans | $1,140 | 1067% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $1,140 | 1067% |
| Cigna | $1,140 | 1067% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's cash price is $900, while the average amount commercial payers negotiate to pay is $1,140. This means that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying cash directly could result in a lower total cost than using insurance, as the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. Since this facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill by bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims processing.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full list price, as Medicare rates represent a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. In this case, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $106.81, which serves as the objective standard for assessing any markup; commercial negotiated rates typically average between 200% and 300% of this baseline, whereas fair pricing is generally defined as 120% to 150%. While the data provided does not include specific state or county average comparisons for this code, patients should always verify their specific plan's deductible status and allowed amounts before relying on insurance, as assuming that in-network coverage guarantees the lowest possible price can lead to unexpected costs if the facility's negotiated rate is higher than the patient's expected out-of-pocket maximum.