X-ray, hip
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $291
- Cash Discount Price: $237
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.27x 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 327% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 227%). 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 | $260 - $278 | 292% |
| Aetna | $275 - $294 | 309% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $275 - $294 | 309% |
| Cigna | $291 - $311 | 327% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $291 - $311 | 327% |
| First Health - All Plans | $291 - $311 | 327% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $291 - $311 | 327% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502) at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's cash price of $237.00 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $294.00 paid by most insurers, including Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, which range between $275 and $311. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which often results in higher out-of-pocket costs due to administrative fees and the insurer's negotiated ceiling. It is important to note that while the facility offers a cash rate, patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they are receiving the lowest possible fee, as hospitals often provide additional reductions for upfront payment that are not reflected in standard billing statements.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup; the cash price of $237.00 represents a significant increase over the federal rate, consistent with commercial pricing structures that include practice expenses and malpractice insurance. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact procedure, the facility's cash rate remains competitive relative to the commercial negotiated rates observed across seven payers, with the lowest allowed amount being $260. Consumers should be aware of balance billing protections under the No Surprises Act, which prevent unexpected bills for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, and should request a full itemized bill to verify