Blood test, sodium
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $37
- Cash Discount Price: $31
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.69x 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 $4.81 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 769% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 669%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthchoice-All Plans | $7 | 146% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 | 208% |
| Tricare | $15 | 312% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $31 - $39 | 644% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $34 | 707% |
| Humana | $35 | 728% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $37 | 769% |
| Aetna | $37 | 769% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $37 | 769% |
| Medicare (plans) | $37 | 769% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $37 | 769% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $39 | 811% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $58 | 1206% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $63 | 1310% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, sodium procedure (CPT 84295) at Kiowa District Hospital in Kiowa, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $31.00, while the median negotiated rate across 14 payers is $37.00. This cash price is notably lower than the facility's gross charge of $39.00 and represents a significant discount compared to the negotiated rates required by insurers like UnitedHealthcare ($31–$39) and Providers Care ($58). For patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash price. Patients should explicitly ask the hospital for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing costs.
It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services like laboratory tests are billed separately by out-of-network providers. If you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement showing specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled charges. Furthermore, commercial rates for this service are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $4.81, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. By comparing your facility's rates to this federal standard and verifying your deductible status before treatment, you can ensure you are not overpaying for medically necessary