A blood draw performed on a child younger than three years old that requires the specific skill of a physician or other qualified clinician because of how difficult the draw is, using a vein other than the standard neck, groin, or scalp veins typically reserved for the hardest cases. It applies when a routine blood draw is not feasible and specialized technique is needed to access a vein safely in a very young child. It reflects the added skill required, not a routine, easily performed draw.
Rates data updated October 2026.
How much does Difficult Blood Draw in a Young Child, Other Vein cost?
$20.42
Typical physician fee. In North Carolina, October 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $20.42 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $12.88 to $28.84.
These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $17 · 10th to 90th $9 to $27Professionalmedian $20 · 10th to 90th $10 to $44
Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$16.98
Facility
None
$8.71
$8.71
$16.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$19.05
Professional
None
$8.71
$14.45
$19.05
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$47.86
Professional
None
$10.23
$23.44
$47.86
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$38.02
Professional
None
$10.47
$20.42
$38.02
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$33.88
Facility
None
$8.91
$17.38
$33.88
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$33.11
Professional
None
$18.20
$25.70
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$41.69
Professional
None
$9.55
$19.05
$41.69
5 more rates with less common billing modifiers
A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$8.71
Professional
52 · Reduced service
$4.37
$7.24
$8.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.74
Median
$2.88
Typical High
$3.55
Professional
53 · Discontinued
$1.74
$2.88
$3.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$1.32
Median
$2.19
Typical High
$2.63
Professional
55 · Aftercare only
$1.32
$2.19
$2.63
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$0.87
Median
$1.45
Typical High
$1.78
Professional
56 · Pre-op care only
$0.87
$1.45
$1.78
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$25.70
Professional
51 · Multiple procedures
$10.00
$12.88
$25.70
Where North Carolina sits
The same service costs 3.2 times more in Wisconsin than in Nebraska. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.