Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $7
- Cash Discount Price: $89
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.04x 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 $6.7 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 | $7 | 104% |
| Dean Health Plan | $7 | 104% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $7 | 104% |
| Healthpartners | $7 | 104% |
| Humana | $7 | 104% |
| Medica | $7 | 104% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $7 | 104% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $7 | 104% |
| Ucare Wi | $7 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 | 104% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, Wisconsin, the cash payment rate of $89 is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $99, offering a potential savings of $10 for patients paying directly. While the facility is a physician-owned acute care hospital, the specific cash price provided does not include a direct comparison to the state or county averages in the available data. However, the cash rate is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $6.70, which serves as the federal baseline for the true cost of this service. Patients should be aware that while insurance negotiated rates for this procedure are uniform at $7 across all ten participating payers, the cash price may still represent a lower out-of-pocket cost if the patient's deductible has been met or if they qualify for a prompt-pay discount.
The facility's negotiated rate of $7 is consistent across all major insurers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare, with no variation between high and low plan amounts. This uniformity suggests a standard contract structure, though the rate remains above the Medicare amount of $6.70. For consumers with high-deductible plans, it is crucial to verify whether the cash price of $89 is lower than their specific insurance allowed amount, as paying cash upfront can sometimes bypass administrative fees and result in immediate savings. Patients are encouraged to contact the billing department directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which could further reduce the final cost before any insurance claim is processed.