Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $2
- Cash Discount Price: $36
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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.
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 | $2 | 84% |
| Dean Health Plan | $2 | 84% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $2 | 84% |
| Healthpartners | $2 | 84% |
| Humana | $2 | 84% |
| Medica | $2 | 84% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $2 | 84% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $2 | 84% |
| Ucare Wi | $2 | 84% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 | 84% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a blood test for hemoglobin at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI, the cash median price is $36. This cash rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $40 and stands in stark contrast to the state of Wisconsin average, where the median negotiated rate is $2 and the median paid amount is $32. While cash payment may appear higher than some state averages, it is often the most cost-effective option for patients with high-deductible plans, as insurance negotiated rates can sometimes exceed the cash price due to administrative overheads.
Patients should be aware that while the facility is an Acute Care Hospital owned by physicians, the specific pricing for this CPT code (85018) varies by payment method. The Medicare amount for this service is $2.37, which serves as a critical benchmark to understand the markup on commercial rates. If you are using insurance, your plan's allowed amount could be higher than the cash price of $36, potentially leading to balance billing if you are out-of-network or if ancillary services are not covered under the contract. To minimize costs, we recommend asking the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as paying upfront can sometimes reduce the final bill by bypassing standard insurance billing cycles.