Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)

For the blood sugar (A1c) test at Satanta District Hospital, the cash median price is $44.00, which is slightly lower than the facility's gross charge of $49.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, the data does not provide specific county or state average figures for this procedure to make direct comparisons. However, it is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $44.00 upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying out-of-pocket may result in immediate coverage rather than a large surprise bill later.

The facility's negotiated rates vary significantly across different insurance carriers, ranging from a low of $11.00 with Direct Benefit-All Plans to a high of $50.00 with Medicaid/KanCare. The median negotiated rate across all payers is $35.00, which is lower than the cash price but higher than the Medicare benchmark of $9.71. This indicates a markup of approximately 360% over the Medicare rate, which is well above the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. To minimize costs, patients should request a prompt-pay discount if paying in full, as hospitals often offer reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payments. Additionally, patients should always request an itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are present before finalizing payment.