Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 83036 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83036
- Insurance Median: $63
- Cash Discount Price: $52
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.49x 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 $9.71 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 649% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 549%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $59 | 608% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $62 | 639% |
| Aetna | $62 | 639% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $63 | 649% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $66 | 680% |
| Cigna | $66 | 680% |
| First Health-All Plans | $66 | 680% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood sugar (A1c) test at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's cash price of $52.00 is lower than the state average of $62.00 and the county average of $52.00. While in-network insurance plans like Rural Carriers, Meritain, and Aetna negotiate a rate of $59.00 to $63.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective, as the cash price is already below the negotiated rates. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and do not reflect the true cost of care; for context, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $9.71, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for fair pricing.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services are billed separately. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary bills often hide unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, since the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payment, you should contact the hospital directly to confirm self-pay rates and ask for a waiver of insurance submission before scheduling your visit to avoid automatic claims processing that could void any cash savings.