Blood test, sodium
Facility: Norton County Hospital
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $36
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.91x 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 $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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 291% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 191%). 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 | $14 | 291% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for sodium at Norton County Hospital, the cash price of $36.00 is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $14.00, which represents the amount Blue Cross Blue Shield pays. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Norton, Kansas, and is owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount. To secure the lowest possible cost, it is advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by offering immediate liquidity incentives that bypass standard insurance billing cycles.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list, as the latter often inflates the perceived value of discounts. The Medicare amount for this code is $4.81, and the facility's cash rate of $36.00 is approximately 7.5 times higher than the federal baseline, reflecting the typical markup found in commercial pricing structures. Because over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement to verify that no services were unbundled or double-charged before agreeing to any payment plan or finalizing the balance.