Blood test, sodium
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 84295 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84295
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $32
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.86x 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 $4.81 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 686% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 586%). 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 | $5 - $35 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 | 208% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $30 | 624% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $32 | 665% |
| Aetna | $32 | 665% |
| First Health-All Plans | $32 | 665% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $33 | 686% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $33 | 686% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $33 | 686% |
| Cigna | $35 | 728% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $35 | 728% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for sodium (CPT code 84295) at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate is $32.00, which is slightly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans. While the facility's cash price is close to the state average, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket initially more cost-effective, as many commercial payers negotiate rates that exceed the cash price. To maximize savings, patients should inquire directly with the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront within a short window, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
Although the facility is in-network for 11 payers, the median negotiated amount of $33.00 is higher than the cash rate, highlighting that being in-network does not guarantee the lowest price. When comparing to the Medicare benchmark of $4.81, the facility's cash rate represents a significant markup, which is typical for commercial pricing structures. If a patient receives an itemized bill that includes unexpected charges or services not rendered, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors or unbundled codes, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so any surprise bills should be disputed with the insurer rather than paid immediately.