Ventilator initial day at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center

3421 W. 9th St, Waterloo, IA · MercyOne · · NPI 1700827896

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Mar 31, 2026 · Ingested Aug 3, 2026

$1,038.05

Cash price

?

Discounted cash price

What a hospital charges a self-pay patient who pays directly, without going through insurance — usually well below the gross charge.

Example: A CT scan has a $3,200 gross charge but an $850 discounted cash price. Ask for it by name when scheduling — hospitals don't always advertise it up front.

Full explanation →

What you pay up front if you don't use insurance.

$1,597.00

Gross charge

?

Gross charge (chargemaster price)

The hospital's full, undiscounted list price — pulled from its internal "chargemaster" price list. Almost no one actually pays this.

Example: A chest X-ray has a gross charge of $1,450. The same hospital's discounted cash price for the same X-ray is $180 — the gross charge mostly anchors negotiations, not what patients pay.

Full explanation →

The hospital's undiscounted list price — almost no one pays this.

$218.00 with UNITED HEALTHCARE vs $1,597.00 with IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
?

Negotiated rate

The price a specific insurance plan agreed to pay the hospital for a service — it varies by insurer, and even by plan within the same insurer.

Example: The same knee MRI has a negotiated rate of $904 with one insurer's PPO plan and $1,509 with another's — identical hospital, identical scan.

Full explanation →

Payer
?

Payer

The insurance company footing the bill — Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and so on.

Example: "Blue Cross Blue Shield" is the payer. Its negotiated rate for an MRI might be $904, while a different payer's negotiated rate for the same scan is $1,509.

Full explanation →
Plan
?

Plan

The specific product an insurer sells — e.g. "Blue Cross PPO 500" — which sets your deductible, coinsurance and negotiated rates.

Example: Two people both insured by Aetna can owe very different amounts for the same MRI: $50 with an HMO plan's flat copay, or the full $1,200 toward a high-deductible PPO plan's unmet deductible.

Full explanation →
Negotiated rate vs. cash
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $218.00 ↓ -79%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $218.00 ↓ -79%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $375.30 ↓ -64%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $375.30 ↓ -64%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
AETNA EAP AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
WEBTPA AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
COVENTRY AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
MERITAIN AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
AETNA AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $443.91 ↓ -57%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $582.03 ↓ -44%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $582.03 ↓ -44%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $582.03 ↓ -44%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $587.85 ↓ -43%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $591.86 ↓ -43%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $593.67 ↓ -43%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $597.66 ↓ -42%
HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE UNITYPOINT HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADV $599.84 ↓ -42%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $599.98 ↓ -42%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $605.78 ↓ -42%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BCN DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
PRE-EMPLOYMENT WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
KAISER DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
WC DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $631.17 ↓ -39%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $789.89 ↓ -24%
OSCAR OSCAR $911.47 ↓ -12%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $985.88 ↓ -5%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $997.76 ↓ -4%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $1,047.63 ↑ +1%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
CIGNA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
CIGNA EAP MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,133.87 ↑ +9%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $1,193.75 ↑ +15%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $1,193.75 ↑ +15%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $1,485.21 ↑ +43%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $1,597.00 ↑ +54%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $1,597.00 ↑ +54%

Visitor-reported prices

visitor-reported
Report what you paid sign in to post

Comments

Add a comment sign in to post

Ventilator initial day at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo $2,518.04 $83.57 – $1,658.75
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $1,117.80 $632.82 – $885.95
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $1,880.45 $137.00 – $2,893.00
MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center New Hampton $2,653.95 $1,616.46 – $4,083.00
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $950.95 $174.00 – $1,463.00
MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein $2,653.95 $1,560.52 – $4,083.00
MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center Cedar Falls $1,038.05 $265.00 – $1,597.00
MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines $5,054.00 $189.00 – $5,054.00

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →