Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Lindsborg Community Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,517
- Cash Discount Price: $1,143
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.72x 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 $558.25 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 272% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 172%). 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 | $38 - $1,517 | 7% |
| Tricare | $767 | 137% |
| Coventry Mcr Adv | $775 | 139% |
| Cigna | $1,388 | 249% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $1,470 | 263% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,470 | 263% |
| Phcs Preferred-All Plans | $1,519 | 272% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $1,519 | 272% |
| Century Health-All Plans | $1,551 | 278% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $1,551 | 278% |
| Coventry Wc | $1,551 | 278% |
| Health Partners -All Plans | $1,551 | 278% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Lindsborg Community Hospital in Lindsborg, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,143 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,519 paid by most insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Tricare. This difference highlights a common pricing dynamic where commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead and network tiering that result in higher allowed amounts than the direct cash price. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could still require out-of-pocket payments if deductibles are not yet met. It is important to verify the specific allowed amount with your insurer before scheduling, as in-network rates vary significantly even within the same facility.
The facility's gross charge of $1,633 is substantially higher than the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, indicating a markup typical of commercial billing structures. However, the median negotiated rate of $1,517 aligns closely with the median paid rate of $1,519 across the 12 payer plans listed, suggesting consistent contract terms for most commercial carriers. To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a detailed, itemized statement before payment is a critical step to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered