Blood test, calcium
Facility: Fredonia Regional Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $36
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.40x 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 $5.16 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 640% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 540%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 - $33 | 39% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $11 - $18 | 213% |
| Aetna | $19 - $33 | 368% |
| Veterans Programs - All Plans | $19 | 368% |
| Reserve National-All Plans | $33 | 640% |
| Cigna | $33 | 640% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $33 | 640% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Fredonia Regional Hospital, the cash price is $36.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $33.00 and the cash median. This rate is notably higher than the state average, as the Medicare benchmark for this service is only $5.16. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna negotiate rates between $11 and $33 depending on the specific plan, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the $36.00 cash price more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. Because the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, it is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling to ensure you are not paying more than necessary.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead, which can inflate the baseline price compared to the true cost of care represented by Medicare benchmarks. If you choose to pay out-of-network or if an ancillary service is billed separately, you may encounter balance billing, where the provider charges the difference between the full chargemaster rate and what your insurance pays. To avoid unexpected costs, always request a full itemized bill before paying and dispute any errors in writing, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the costly insurance claims cycle.