MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $5,375
- Cash Discount Price: $3,960
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 15.08x 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 $356.43 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 1508% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1408%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $5,092 - $5,262 | 1429% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $5,375 | 1508% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $5,375 | 1508% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $5,375 | 1508% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (with and without contrast) at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $5,092 to $5,375 depending on the insurance plan, while the cash price is $3,960. This cash rate is notably lower than the facility's negotiated amounts, which aligns with the median paid amount of $5,375 reported for this service. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the $3,960 rate is significantly lower than the typical insurance negotiated rate of $5,375. To maximize savings, it is recommended to explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final cost by bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims processing.
When evaluating the cost of this procedure, it is important to compare the facility's pricing against objective benchmarks rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this code is $356.43, and the facility's cash rate represents a markup of 15.1% above this federal baseline, which falls within the range of fair pricing typically defined as 120% to 150% of Medicare. Commercial negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, making the cash price an attractive option for those without insurance. If you receive a bill, always request a detailed, itemized statement to verify that no services were double-billed or unbundled, as over 80%