Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Greeley County Health Services
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $2
- Cash Discount Price: $25
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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 $2.37 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 | $2 | 84% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $2 | 84% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure at Greeley County Health Services, the cash price of $25.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $2.00, which is significantly below the Medicare benchmark of $2.37. This suggests that paying out-of-pocket may be the most cost-effective option for patients with high-deductible plans, as the cash price avoids the administrative overhead and markup often found in insurance contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Tribune, KS, with government-local ownership, patients should verify if their specific insurance plan has a lower allowed amount before scheduling, as some commercial payers may negotiate rates that exceed the cash price.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is important to understand that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, making it difficult to spot errors or unbundled charges. If you receive a bill, request a full itemized statement showing the specific CPT code 85018 to verify that no unnecessary fees were added. Additionally, since the facility offers a cash price of $25.00, you should explicitly ask about "prompt-pay" discounts or self-pay rates before check-in, as paying upfront can sometimes reduce the final amount further by bypassing the costly insurance claims process.