Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Kingman Healthcare Center
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $7
- Cash Discount Price: $9
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.95x 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 $2.37 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 295% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 195%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $1 - $17 | 42% |
| Health Partners | $1 - $17 | 42% |
| Aetna | $1 - $17 | 42% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1 - $17 | 42% |
| Triwest | $2 | 84% |
| Healthy Blue | $2 | 84% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $2 - $8 | 84% |
| Celtic Insurance Company | $7 - $8 | 295% |
| Humana | $7 | 295% |
| Wellcare | $7 | 295% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $8 | 338% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for hemoglobin (CPT 85018) at Kingman Healthcare Center in Kansas, the cash median price is $9.00, which is $1.00 lower than the facility's gross charge of $10.00. This cash rate is notably lower than the state average, which is $10.00 higher than the cash price. While commercial insurance plans like Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates that typically range between $7.00 and $17.00 depending on the specific plan, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash rate of $9.00 directly may result in lower total costs compared to having insurance process the claim, especially since the negotiated rates for many payers are higher than the cash price.
To ensure you receive the most accurate and lowest possible rate, it is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as commercial rates can vary significantly even within the same network. If you choose to pay out-of-pocket, ask the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the cost by bypassing administrative fees associated with insurance billing. Additionally, if you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or a service that was not covered by your plan, you may be subject to balance billing, where you are charged the difference between the provider's full rate and what your insurance paid. In such cases, you should request an itemized billing audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, and you