Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $2,426
- Cash Discount Price: $2,274
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.35x 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 $558.25 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 435% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 335%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,517 - $3,032 | 272% |
| Humana | $1,607 | 288% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,607 - $3,032 | 288% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,607 - $2,820 | 288% |
| Tricare | $1,607 | 288% |
| Aetna | $1,607 - $3,032 | 288% |
| Cigna | $2,426 | 435% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $2,789 | 500% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $2,789 | 500% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the cash price of $2,274 is lower than the facility's gross charge of $3,032. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, the negotiated rates for in-network insurance plans range from $1,607 to $3,032, with a median negotiated rate of $2,426. This means that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront could result in significant savings compared to the standard insurance negotiated rate. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative costs for claims processing, which can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to the true cost of care.
To maximize potential savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling their appointment, as billing systems may default to insurance processing once a card is on file. A prompt-pay discount typically offers a fee reduction of 20% to 50% for upfront payment, bypassing the costly and delayed insurance billing cycle. Additionally, while the Medicare amount for this service is $558.25, the cash price is significantly higher; however, commercial negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the Medicare rate, making the cash option a more efficient financial choice for those without active insurance coverage.