Blood test, calcium
Facility: Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $554
- Cash Discount Price: $13
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 107.36x 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 $5.16 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 10736% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 10636%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $350 | 6783% |
| Providrs Care | $757 | 14671% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, KS, the cash price is $13.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $554.00 and the maximum allowed amounts of $350.00 and $757.00 for UnitedHealthcare and Providrs Care, respectively. While commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs due to administrative fees and network tiering, paying cash upfront can be a more economical option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without coverage, as the cash price avoids the markup inherent in insurance billing. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may be necessary if the deductible has not yet been met, whereas self-pay patients could potentially secure additional discounts by requesting prompt-pay rates prior to check-in.
It is important to distinguish between the facility's gross charge of $20.00 and the actual costs incurred, as commercial rates frequently exceed the Medicare benchmark of $5.16 for this procedure. Medicare rates serve as a scientifically validated baseline representing the true cost of delivery, whereas commercial negotiated rates often include additional layers of administrative overhead. If you receive a bill that exceeds the allowed amount for your insurance plan, you may be facing balance billing, which is generally prohibited for emergency services and non-emergency care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a detailed, itemized bill that lists specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary invoice, and dispute any errors in writing to protect your financial interests.