X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $93
- Cash Discount Price: $117
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.05x 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 $88.91 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.
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 | $11 - $396 | 12% |
| Aetna | $32 - $81 | 36% |
| Cigna | $81 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $81 - $89 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $133 | 91% |
| Humana | $82 | 92% |
| Healthy Blue | $87 | 98% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $102 | 115% |
| Home State Health | $118 | 133% |
| Fox Everett | $243 - $249 | 273% |
| Phcs | $304 - $311 | 342% |
| Multiplan | $336 - $344 | 378% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
Liberty Hospital, located at 2525 Glenn Hendren Dr in Liberty, Missouri, offers a chest X-ray (two views) with a cash median price of $117. This rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $410 and aligns closely with the state average of $117 for this service. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the $117 cash rate may be more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates that range from $81 to $344, often exceeding the cash price.
While the cash rate is competitive, patients should be aware that commercial insurance plans can result in higher out-of-pocket costs depending on individual deductibles and plan structures. For instance, Fox Everett and Phcs have negotiated rates starting at $243 and $304 respectively, which are substantially higher than the cash option. To minimize costs, patients are encouraged to ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. Additionally, since the Medicare amount for this procedure is $88.91, the cash rate of $117 remains within a reasonable range compared to the federal benchmark, avoiding the potential for balance billing associated with out-of-network providers.