CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $104
- Cash Discount Price: $1,747
- 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 $106.81 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 | $104 - $1,748 | 97% |
| Dean Health Plan | $104 | 97% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $104 | 97% |
| Healthpartners | $104 | 97% |
| Humana | $104 | 97% |
| Medica | $104 | 97% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $104 | 97% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $104 - $876 | 97% |
| Ucare Wi | $104 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $104 | 97% |
| Alliance | $518 | 485% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
Oakleaf Surgical Hospital, located at 1000 Oakleaf Way in Altoona, Wisconsin, reports a cash median price of $1,747 for a CT scan of the chest without contrast. While the facility's cash rate is significantly lower than the gross charge of $1,941, it is important to note that commercial insurance plans often pay negotiated rates that exceed the cash price. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield has a high-end negotiated rate of $1,748, which is nearly identical to the cash rate, while Alliance charges a flat negotiated rate of $518. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash rate of $1,747 directly, especially when their insurance negotiated rates are higher, provided they secure a prompt-pay discount or self-pay classification before the claim is submitted.
The Medicare benchmarking rate for this procedure is $106.81, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. The cash price of $1,747 represents approximately 16 times the Medicare amount, illustrating the typical markup found in commercial billing structures where administrative overhead and profit margins are factored in. Although specific county and state average data were not provided in the available information, patients are encouraged to verify their specific plan's allowed amount, as some insurers like Dean Health Plan and Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire have a fixed negotiated rate of $104. To ensure transparency and avoid balance billing, patients should request an itemized bill to review CPT codes and unit costs, and explicitly ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts or self-pay reductions before scheduling the service.