X-ray, hip
Facility: Ellsworth County Medical Center
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $196
- Cash Discount Price: $218
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.20x 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 $88.91 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 220% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 120%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $102 - $207 | 115% |
| Triwest -All Plans | $102 | 115% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $102 | 115% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $102 | 115% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $142 - $218 | 160% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $163 - $172 | 183% |
| Aetna | $196 | 220% |
| First Health - All Plans | $196 | 220% |
| Cigna | $207 | 233% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $218 | 245% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid- All Other Plans | $218 | 245% |
| Coventry Mcaid-All Plans | $218 | 245% |
| Providers Care-Wppa-All Plans | $327 | 368% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502) at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, Kansas, the cash price is $218.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the Medicaid rate. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average for this service, as indicated by the 2.2x multiplier relative to the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. While commercial insurance plans like Humana and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates ranging from $102 to $218, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the full cash price of $218.00 directly rather than relying on insurance reimbursement, provided the patient's deductible has been met.
Patients should be aware that while the facility offers a cash rate, insurance contracts may result in balance billing if out-of-network services are involved, though the No Surprises Act protects emergency care at in-network facilities. To ensure the lowest possible cost, it is advisable to request a prompt-pay discount from the hospital before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can sometimes reduce the bill by 20% to 50%. Additionally, if a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full line-by-line audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected to lower the final amount owed.