Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Lindsborg Community Hospital
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $27
- Cash Discount Price: $20
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.39x 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 $2.37 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 1139% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1039%). 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 | $10 | 422% |
| Tricare | $14 | 591% |
| Coventry Mcr Adv | $14 | 591% |
| Cigna | $25 | 1055% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $26 | 1097% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $26 | 1097% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $27 | 1139% |
| Phcs Preferred-All Plans | $27 | 1139% |
| Coventry Wc | $28 | 1181% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $28 | 1181% |
| Century Health-All Plans | $28 | 1181% |
| Health Partners -All Plans | $28 | 1181% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Lindsborg Community Hospital, the cash price of $20.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $27.00 and significantly below the Medicare benchmark of $2.37. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Lindsborg, KS, the data provided does not include specific county or state average figures for comparison. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rate of $27.00 exceeds the cash amount. To maximize savings, it is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can further reduce the final bill.
The facility's billing structure reflects standard industry practices where commercial insurance carriers pay negotiated rates that often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should remain vigilant regarding itemized billing audits to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final statement. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a detailed, line-by-line itemized bill before payment is the most effective way to identify and correct potential mistakes. If a patient receives a bill that appears inflated, they should dispute any discrepancies in writing to the billing supervisor rather than accepting summary invoices or verbal assurances.