Blood test, vitamin D
Facility: Decatur Health
Billing Code: 82306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82306
- Insurance Median: $309
- Cash Discount Price: $365
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.44x 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 $29.6 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 1044% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 944%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $243 | 821% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $247 - $309 | 834% |
| Humana | $250 | 845% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $281 | 949% |
| Aetna | $365 - $406 | 1233% |
| Midlands Choice- All Plans | $365 | 1233% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $410 | 1385% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for vitamin D at Decatur Health in Oberlin, Kansas, the cash price is $365.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates with major insurers like UnitedHealthcare ($247–$309) and Aetna ($365–$406). While the facility's cash rate is higher than the state average of $280.00, it remains below the gross chargemaster of $406.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates paid by insurers often exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible price, patients should explicitly ask the hospital for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $29.60, indicating that the cash price of $365.00 represents a substantial markup relative to the federal government's cost baseline. This highlights the importance of comparing rates against Medicare rather than the inflated hospital chargemaster to understand true pricing. Although 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. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, obtaining a detailed line-by-line statement is a critical step in verifying the accuracy of the charges before payment.