CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Clay County Medical Center
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $103
- Cash Discount Price: $1,049
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.96x 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 $106.81 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplan- All Plans | $54 - $1,890 | 51% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $69 - $1,890 | 65% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $75 - $1,890 | 70% |
| Aetna | $101 - $1,850 | 95% |
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $101 - $1,850 | 95% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, KS, the cash price is $1,049, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, reflecting a markup common in commercial billing where rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates for this service range widely across payers, with the lowest allowed amount being $54 and the highest reaching $1,890. Because the cash price here exceeds the lowest negotiated rate found in the data, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying out-of-pocket cheaper than using insurance, provided they can secure the lowest possible allowed amount from their carrier.
To minimize costs, patients should actively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as hospitals often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payment to bypass administrative claim processing costs. It is also important to verify your deductible status, as using insurance without meeting your out-of-pocket threshold could result in paying the full negotiated rate rather than a lower copay. Finally, if you receive a bill, always demand a full itemized statement showing specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled charges that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.