Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $24
- Cash Discount Price: $12
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.13x 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 1013% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 913%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centura Employee Plan | $3 | 127% |
| Kansas Health | $9 | 380% |
| Aetna | $9 - $23 | 380% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $9 - $24 | 380% |
| Medicare (plans) | $9 | 380% |
| Humana | $9 | 380% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $13 | 549% |
| Multiplan | $26 - $27 | 1097% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $27 | 1139% |
| Wppa | $28 | 1181% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test (hemoglobin) at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas, the cash median price is $12.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $29.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit church, patients should note that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. For instance, the median negotiated rate across payers is $24.00, and the highest negotiated rate is $28.00 for Wppa. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $12.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than having your insurance process a claim that could result in higher out-of-pocket costs, especially if your deductible has not yet been met.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary bills can obscure specific line items and potential errors. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, verifying the exact CPT codes and unit costs is essential. Additionally, be aware of balance billing protections; under the No Surprises Act, you are generally protected from being billed the difference between the hospital's full rate and your insurance allowed amount for emergency care or non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Finally, do not hesitate to ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce your cost if you settle the bill in full within a short window.