Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $79
- Cash Discount Price: $83
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.79x 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 1179% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1079%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $6 | 90% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $6 | 90% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $79 | 1179% |
| Humana | $83 | 1239% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $83 | 1239% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Stafford County Hospital, the cash median price is $83.00, which aligns exactly with the gross charge and the facility's negotiated rate of $79.00. This cash price is notably higher than the state average for this procedure, though it remains consistent across all five payers listed, including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Health Partners. Because the cash rate matches the negotiated amount, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket directly to the hospital is the most cost-effective option, potentially saving money compared to having insurance process a claim that could exceed the cash price.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to note that while the facility is in-network for these payers, the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at this Critical Access Hospital, ensuring the final charge reflects the agreed-upon negotiated rate rather than the full chargemaster. Given that the cash price is already at the negotiated floor, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and allowed amounts to confirm that paying cash upfront remains the most economical choice.