Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Greeley County Health Services
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $13
- Cash Discount Price: $60
- 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 $13.39 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $13 | 97% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $13 | 97% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) procedure at Greeley County Health Services, the facility's cash median price is $60.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates of $13.00 paid by Aetna and Medicaid/KanCare. This price difference highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients compared to direct cash payment. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the $60.00 cash price upfront may be more affordable than your insurance covering the service, especially since the negotiated rate of $13.00 represents the maximum amount the insurer will pay before applying your deductible. To maximize savings, you should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
It is important to note that while the facility is in-network for both payers, the data does not provide a specific "median paid" amount, meaning your actual cost depends entirely on your individual plan's deductible and coinsurance. Furthermore, the facility's cash rate of $60.00 is compared against the Medicare amount of $13.39, which serves as a federal benchmark for the true cost of care. Although the data does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this code, the significant gap between the cash price and the negotiated rates suggests that commercial insurance contracts may be inflating the baseline price. If you receive a bill that exceeds the cash price or the allowed amount, you should request an itemized billing audit to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered