Blood test, glucose (blood sugar)
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 82947 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82947
- Insurance Median: $35
- Cash Discount Price: $64
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.91x 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 $3.93 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 891% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 791%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 | 153% |
| Medicare (plans) | $32 | 814% |
| Tricare | $32 | 814% |
| Humana | $32 | 814% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $35 | 891% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $58 | 1476% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $61 | 1552% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $61 | 1552% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $90 | 2290% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood glucose test at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS, the cash price is $64.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $35.00 for most major payers like Medicare, Tricare, and Humana. While the facility's facility rating is 2 out of 5, the pricing structure suggests that paying cash directly may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance for this specific service, as the cash price aligns with the negotiated rates rather than the higher gross charge of $64.00. Patients with high-deductible plans should verify their out-of-pocket maximums, as paying the cash price upfront could result in immediate savings compared to waiting for insurance to process a claim that might exceed their deductible.
It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should still request a full itemized bill to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a line-by-line audit can help identify discrepancies before payment. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final amount by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, effectively bypassing administrative fees and claims processing costs that inflate insurance payments.