MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $950
- Cash Discount Price: $950
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.90x 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 $243.77 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 390% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 290%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners-All Plans | $902 | 370% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $950 | 390% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $950 | 390% |
| Humana | $950 | 390% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $950 | 390% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Stafford County Hospital, the cash price is $950, which matches the median negotiated rate across all five payers, including Health Partners, Medica, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and the VA. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, KS, charges exactly the same amount regardless of insurance coverage, meaning there is no balance billing risk for in-network patients. The cash price is also identical to the median negotiated rate, indicating that paying out-of-pocket does not result in a higher cost than using insurance for this specific service.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. While commercial rates typically average 200% to 300% of Medicare, this facility's rate of $950 represents a 3.9x markup compared to the Medicare amount. Given that the cash price equals the negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full $950 upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer would likely cover the same amount after deductibles. It is recommended to confirm the "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount status directly with the hospital before scheduling, as these incentives can further reduce the final bill.