Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $62
- Cash Discount Price: $66
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.63x 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 $13.39 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 463% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 363%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $9 - $66 | 67% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $43 | 321% |
| First Health - All Plans | $46 | 344% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $47 | 351% |
| Tricare | $47 | 351% |
| Aetna | $47 - $62 | 351% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $48 | 358% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $53 | 396% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $59 | 441% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $62 | 463% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $62 | 463% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $64 | 478% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $64 | 478% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $64 | 478% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $64 | 478% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $64 | 478% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $66 | 493% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $66 | 493% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $66 | 493% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $99 | 739% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Cheyenne County Hospital, the cash price is $66.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $62.00 and the state average. While many insurance plans negotiate rates between $9 and $99, the cash price remains competitive compared to the broader market range. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $66.00 cash rate directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for some payers exceed the cash price. To secure the lowest possible amount, we recommend asking the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
It is important to distinguish between the facility's gross charge of $66.00 and the actual amounts paid by insurers, which vary significantly based on network status. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary services or out-of-network providers could still trigger additional charges if not carefully reviewed. If you receive a bill that seems higher than expected, request a full itemized audit to verify that all codes are accurate and that no services were unbundled or double-billed. Comparing your specific allowed amount to the Medicare benchmark of $13.39 reveals the markup structure, but the most reliable way to minimize costs is to confirm your deductible status and negotiate directly with the billing department for the best available rate.