MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $1,794
- Cash Discount Price: $1,463
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.03x 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 503% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 403%). 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 | $1,658 | 465% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $1,755 | 492% |
| Aetna | $1,755 | 492% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,794 | 503% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $1,852 | 520% |
| Cigna | $1,852 | 520% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,852 | 520% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (with and without contrast) at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's cash median price is $1,463, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare ($1,794) and Cigna ($1,852). This price transparency data shows that paying cash directly can sometimes result in significant savings compared to insurance reimbursement, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount may exceed the cash price. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should verify their specific plan details, as commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the final cost beyond the base service fee.
It is important to note that the facility's cash rate of $1,463 is notably lower than the state of Kansas average for this procedure, which is reflected in the data's comparison metrics. However, patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive care from out-of-network providers, where the hospital could bill the difference between the provider's full chargemaster and the insurance allowed amount. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request a prompt-pay discount before scheduling, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, and always demand an itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included in the final invoice.