Blood test, sodium
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $4
- Cash Discount Price: $44
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.83x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $4 | 83% |
| Aetna | $4 | 83% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 | 83% |
| Providrs Care | $5 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $94 - $99 | 1954% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for sodium (CPT 84295) at Wamego Health Center in Wamego, KS, the facility's cash median price is $44.00, which is significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $4.81 and the negotiated rates paid by major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield ($94–$99) and Medicaid/KanCare ($4). While commercial insurance contracts often result in higher allowed amounts due to administrative overhead and network tiering, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before relying on insurance to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request an itemized bill that lists specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary invoice that obscures individual line items, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled charges or services not rendered. Additionally, if you are billed for out-of-network services at this in-network facility, the No Surprises Act generally protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. If you choose to pay cash directly, ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% when paid in full upfront, bypassing the costly claims processing cycle that insurance companies utilize.