Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Saint John Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $13
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.03x 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 $13.63 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 | $14 - $24 | 103% |
| Celtic | $14 - $87 | 103% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $14 | 103% |
| Midland Care Connection | $14 | 103% |
| Medicare (plans) | $14 | 103% |
| Cigna | $14 | 103% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $14 | 103% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $14 - $19 | 103% |
| Tricare | $14 | 103% |
| Healthy Blue | $14 | 103% |
| Corizon | $19 | 139% |
| Employer Direct Healthcare | $19 | 139% |
| Well Path | $19 | 139% |
| Centurion | $20 | 147% |
| Naphcare | $21 | 154% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $25 - $53 | 183% |
| Comp Alliance Workers Comp | $27 | 198% |
| Worker Compensation | $30 | 220% |
| Oha Networks | $30 | 220% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $13.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans, which range from $14 to $53 depending on the carrier. While the facility's negotiated average of $14.00 is only slightly above the cash price, many commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates as high as $53, which can exceed the cash option. This pricing structure highlights that for patients with high-deductible plans or those without immediate insurance coverage, paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to relying on insurance reimbursement, provided the patient qualifies for the cash rate.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency services at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary charges or out-of-network lab services could still trigger additional bills if not carefully reviewed. To minimize costs, individuals should request a full itemized bill before paying and verify that all services rendered are accurately coded, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled charges or services not rendered. Additionally, since the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payment, patients should explicitly ask for self-pay or prompt-pay rates at registration to ensure they are not inadvertently enrolled in a billing cycle that includes administrative fees and higher negotiated amounts.