X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $304
- Cash Discount Price: $240
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.42x 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 342% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 242%). 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 | $272 | 306% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $288 | 324% |
| Aetna | $288 | 324% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $304 | 342% |
| First Health - All Plans | $304 | 342% |
| Cigna | $304 | 342% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $304 | 342% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the cervical spine at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's cash price is $240.00, which is lower than the average negotiated rate of $304.00 paid by insurance carriers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount. It is important to note that this cash price represents a self-pay rate; patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts or self-pay classifications before scheduling to ensure they receive the lowest possible fee, as billing systems often default to insurance processing once a card is on file.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The commercial negotiated rate of $304.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the administrative costs and contract structures inherent in insurance billing. Although the data provided does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, the disparity between the Medicare rate and the commercial rate highlights the importance of understanding the difference between a facility's gross charges and the actual amount paid by insurers. Consumers are advised to request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have inflated the total, ensuring the final charge aligns with the negotiated or cash rate.