MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $824
- Cash Discount Price: $773
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.38x 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 $243.77 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 338% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 238%). 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 | $521 - $1,030 | 214% |
| Aetna | $546 - $1,030 | 224% |
| Humana | $546 | 224% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $546 - $1,030 | 224% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $546 - $958 | 224% |
| Tricare | $546 | 224% |
| Cigna | $824 | 338% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $948 | 389% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $948 | 389% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the facility's cash price of $773.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers, which range from $521 to $1,030 depending on the plan. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should be aware that paying cash upfront often results in a lower total cost than using insurance, as the insurance negotiated rates frequently exceed the cash price. To maximize savings, patients with high-deductible plans should verify if their specific plan's allowed amount is higher than the cash rate and inquire directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window.
When evaluating this price, it is important to compare it against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charge. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate of $773.00 represents a markup of 3.4 times the Medicare rate. Although commercial negotiated rates are typically higher due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, the cash price remains a strong baseline for comparison. Patients should request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies, and should avoid signing away their rights to dispute balance billing if they encounter unexpected charges from out-of-network services.