Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $58
- Cash Discount Price: $64
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.66x 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 $6.7 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 866% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 766%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $12 - $26 | 179% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $54 | 806% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $61 | 910% |
| Cigna | $61 | 910% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $64 | 955% |
| Aetna | $109 | 1627% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $64.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate for UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and the VA. This cash price is significantly higher than the state average of $54.00, suggesting that paying out-of-pocket may not be the most economical option for patients with high-deductible plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the negotiated rates for major payers like Aetna ($109) and Blue Cross Blue Shield ($12 to $26) vary widely, highlighting that in-network status does not guarantee the lowest possible cost. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated amount could be unnecessary if they have already met their out-of-pocket maximum.
To potentially reduce costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can range from 20% to 50% off the billed amount for upfront payment. Since hospitals often charge higher administrative fees for processing insurance claims, paying cash directly can sometimes bypass these costs entirely. Additionally, because Medicare's benchmark rate for this service is only $6.70, the commercial rates collected here represent a substantial markup compared to the federal baseline. If you receive a bill, request a full itemized statement to ensure no errors exist, and remember that the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, though this specific test appears to be fully covered within the facility's network agreements.