CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (no contrast)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 74176 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 74176
- Insurance Median: $236
- Cash Discount Price: $1,814
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.97x 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 $243.77 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 | $236 - $1,748 | 97% |
| Dean Health Plan | $236 | 97% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $236 | 97% |
| Healthpartners | $236 | 97% |
| Humana | $236 | 97% |
| Medica | $236 | 97% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $236 | 97% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $236 - $876 | 97% |
| Ucare Wi | $236 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $236 | 97% |
| Alliance | $1,182 | 485% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (no contrast) at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI, the facility's cash median rate of $1,814 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $2,015, offering a potential savings of $201 for self-pay patients. This cash price is also notably lower than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, which serves as the federal government's objective baseline for the true cost of delivery. While many commercial payers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Security Health Plan Of Wi have negotiated rates ranging from $236 to $1,748, the cash option remains the most affordable entry point, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurance negotiated rate might exceed the cash price.
Patients should be aware that hospitals often offer prompt-pay discounts of 20% to 50% for upfront payments, which can further reduce the $1,814 cash median to a lower out-of-pocket amount. It is crucial to request self-pay classification and prompt-pay rates before check-in and to sign a waiver of insurance submission to avoid automatic claims processing that would void these cash agreements. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are generally protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, though they should always request a full itemized CPT-coded bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have inflated the final charge.