CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Hiawatha Community Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $901
- Cash Discount Price: $1,156
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.44x 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 $106.81 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 844% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 744%). 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 | $428 - $993 | 401% |
| Aetna | $428 - $934 | 401% |
| Humana | $432 | 404% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $480 | 427% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $513 | 480% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Preferred Hlth - All Plans | $1,040 | 974% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $1,098 | 1028% |
| Cigna | $1,098 | 1028% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $1,121 | 1050% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $1,121 | 1050% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $1,156 | 1082% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Hiawatha Community Hospital, the cash price is $1,156.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate with UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. While the hospital's cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, it is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. In this specific case, the cash price is also higher than the state average for this procedure, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might find paying out-of-pocket cheaper if their insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate. However, since the cash price here is the highest among the listed commercial payers, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and allowed amounts before scheduling to avoid unexpected costs.
Patients should be aware that the facility offers a prompt-pay discount, which can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront within 30 days. This discount bypasses the costly insurance claims processing cycle, providing immediate liquidity to the hospital. To secure this rate, patients must request self-pay classification and sign a waiver preventing the hospital from submitting an insurance claim, as automatic submission will void the cash agreement. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice.