Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $53
- Cash Discount Price: $48
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.91x 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 791% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 691%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 | 104% |
| Aetna | $7 | 104% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $7 | 104% |
| Providrs Care | $7 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $53 - $110 | 791% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for magnesium at Wamego Health Center, the cash median price is $48.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $53.00 and the Medicare benchmark of $6.70. While commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have a single plan paying $7.00, and Medicaid/KanCare plans range from $7.00 to $110.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming in-network coverage guarantees the lowest price can lead to unexpected costs if the contract rate is higher than the cash option.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a detailed, line-by-line itemized audit is a critical step to identify double-billing or unbundled charges that may have inflated your total. While the facility is located in Wamego, KS (ZIP 66547), always confirm the exact pricing structure with the hospital to ensure you are not paying balance bills for out-of-network ancillary services, which are protected against under the No Surprises Act for non-emergency care at in-network facilities.