X-ray exam of arm infant 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

$452.40

Cash price

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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.

$696.00

Gross charge

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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.

$98.49 with MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS vs $464.00 with UNITED HEALTHCARE — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
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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
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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
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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
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $98.49 ↓ -78%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $98.49 ↓ -78%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $98.49 ↓ -78%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $99.48 ↓ -78%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $100.16 ↓ -78%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $100.46 ↓ -78%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $101.14 ↓ -78%
HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE UNITYPOINT HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADV $101.51 ↓ -78%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $101.53 ↓ -78%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $102.51 ↓ -77%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
WC DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
KAISER DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BCN DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
PRE-EMPLOYMENT WELLMARK PPO $106.81 ↓ -76%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $109.04 ↓ -76%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $109.04 ↓ -76%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
AETNA EAP AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
AETNA AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
WEBTPA AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
COVENTRY AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
MERITAIN AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $120.67 ↓ -73%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $133.67 ↓ -70%
OSCAR OSCAR $154.24 ↓ -66%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $166.84 ↓ -63%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $168.85 ↓ -63%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $202.01 ↓ -55%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $202.01 ↓ -55%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $240.48 ↓ -47%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $240.48 ↓ -47%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $304.38 ↓ -33%
CIGNA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
CIGNA EAP MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $329.44 ↓ -27%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $431.52 ↓ -5%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $464.00 ↑ +3%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $464.00 ↑ +3%

Visitor-reported prices

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X-ray exam of arm infant at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo $276.58 $7.10 – $182.19
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $178.20 $101.79 – $142.51
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $266.50 $93.79 – $273.00
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $341.25 $96.27 – $350.00
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City $311.35 $81.66 – $319.00
MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport $195.00 $101.79 – $142.51
MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center DeWitt $195.00 $73.78 – $158.41
UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital Dubuque $204.60 $7.10 – $204.60

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →