Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $106
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.88x 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 $6.7 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 388% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 288%). 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 | $26 | 388% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the facility's cash price of $106.00 is notably lower than the state average, which sits at $118.00. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. In this specific case, the median negotiated rate for Blue Cross Blue Shield is $26.00, which is significantly lower than the cash price. However, if you have a high-deductible plan that has not yet met your deductible, you may end up paying the higher negotiated rate of $26.00 rather than the cash price. It is important to verify your deductible status before scheduling, as paying out-of-pocket might not be cheaper if your insurance has already covered most of your annual costs.
To ensure you receive the best possible price, we recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront. Additionally, since this service is billed under CPT code 83735, you should request a full itemized bill before paying to avoid errors or double-charging, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies. For context on pricing fairness, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's markup. While the facility's negotiated rate of $26.00 is well below the gross charge of $118.00, comparing it to the Medicare rate helps illustrate the