CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $174
- Cash Discount Price: $1,110
- 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 $179.2 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 | $174 - $1,748 | 97% |
| Dean Health Plan | $174 | 97% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $174 | 97% |
| Healthpartners | $174 | 97% |
| Humana | $174 | 97% |
| Medica | $174 | 97% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $174 | 97% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $174 - $876 | 97% |
| Ucare Wi | $174 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $174 | 97% |
| Alliance | $869 | 485% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head with contrast at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI, the cash median rate is $1,110, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,233 and represents a substantial discount for self-pay patients. While the facility is owned by physicians and serves as an acute care hospital, the most direct benchmark available for this service is the Medicare amount of $179.20. It is important to note that commercial insurance negotiated rates vary widely among payers; while most plans like Dean Health Plan, Healthpartners, and UnitedHealthcare have a consistent low of $174 and a high of $174, some payers such as Security Health Plan Of Wi and Alliance offer higher rates of $876 and $869, respectively. Patients should be aware that if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, paying out-of-pocket might result in lower overall costs, provided they qualify for prompt-pay discounts by paying upfront.
The data indicates that 11 different payers have negotiated rates for this procedure, with the majority settling at $174, though Security Health Plan Of Wi and Alliance have higher maximums of $876 and $869. Because the facility is an in-network provider for these carriers, patients are generally protected from surprise balance billing for emergency or non-emergency services under the No Surprises Act, but it remains critical to verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab tests or imaging components, are truly in-network to avoid unexpected charges. To ensure the most accurate pricing, consumers should request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as summary bills often obscure individual