CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Lindsborg Community Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $2,977
- Cash Discount Price: $2,277
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 16.61x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1661% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1561%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $453 | 253% |
| Tricare | $1,529 | 853% |
| Coventry Mcr Adv | $1,544 | 862% |
| Cigna | $2,765 | 1543% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $2,928 | 1634% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2,928 | 1634% |
| Phcs Preferred-All Plans | $3,025 | 1688% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $3,025 | 1688% |
| Century Health-All Plans | $3,091 | 1725% |
| Health Partners -All Plans | $3,091 | 1725% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $3,091 | 1725% |
| Coventry Wc | $3,091 | 1725% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head (with and without contrast) at Lindsborg Community Hospital in Lindsborg, KS, the facility's cash median price is $2,277, which is lower than the gross charge of $3,253. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the negotiated rates for in-network payers range from $453 for Blue Cross Blue Shield up to $3,091 for several other plans, including Coventry Mcr Adv, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $2,277 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the negotiated rates charged by insurance carriers, as the insurance allowed amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients should verify their specific deductible status and request self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling to ensure they are not billed the full negotiated rate.
The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $179.20, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. The facility's cash median of $2,277 represents a significant markup relative to the Medicare rate, consistent with commercial pricing structures where negotiated rates typically average 200% to 300% of Medicare amounts. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as summary bills often obscure individual line items and potential errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If a balance bill arises from out-of-network ancillary services, patients are protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-em