X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $277
- Cash Discount Price: $219
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.12x 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 $88.91 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 312% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 212%). 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 | $248 | 279% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $263 | 296% |
| Aetna | $263 | 296% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $277 | 312% |
| First Health - All Plans | $277 | 312% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $277 | 312% |
| Cigna | $277 | 312% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray, the facility's cash price is $219.00, which is lower than the median negotiated rate of $277.00 paid by insurance carriers. This difference highlights a common billing scenario where cash payments can be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans, as the insurance negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price. While the facility is located in Mankato, Kansas (ZIP 66956), the provided data does not include specific county or state average figures for this procedure, so a direct comparison to regional averages cannot be made at this time.
Patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as the seven payers listed for this service—ranging from Rural Carriers to Cigna—all have a single plan with a negotiated rate of $248 to $277.00. It is important to note that while Medicare sets a benchmark of $88.91 for this service, commercial rates are typically higher due to administrative costs and contract structures. To potentially reduce out-of-pocket costs, patients are encouraged to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can offer significant fee reductions for upfront payment. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should ensure they are aware of their network status to avoid unexpected charges.