Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $35
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.54x 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 $3.95 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 354% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 254%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Health | $4 | 101% |
| Cigna | $4 - $5 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 - $29 | 101% |
| Devoted Health | $4 | 101% |
| Humana | $4 | 101% |
| Innovage | $4 | 101% |
| Medicare (plans) | $4 | 101% |
| Aetna | $4 - $40 | 101% |
| Kaiser | $4 - $36 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $4 - $14 | 101% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $5 | 127% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $6 | 152% |
| Direct To Employer | $7 - $52 | 177% |
| Denver Health | $30 | 759% |
| Wpaa | $33 | 835% |
| Christian Health Aid | $38 | 962% |
| Multiplan | $43 - $110 | 1089% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $46 | 1165% |
| Peak Health | $50 | 1266% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas, the cash median price is $35.00, which is significantly higher than the state average of $14.00. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and Multiplan have negotiated rates ranging from $4 to $110, these amounts often exceed the cash price, making self-pay a potentially more affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans. Because hospitals frequently issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, patients should request a full itemized statement to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final charge. Additionally, asking for a prompt-pay discount before scheduling can reduce the cost by 20% to 50%, as hospitals offer immediate liquidity incentives that bypass costly insurance claims processing.
The facility's Medicare benchmark rate of $3.95 serves as a critical baseline, revealing that the cash price of $35.00 represents a substantial markup compared to the federal government's cost-based reimbursement. Commercial negotiated rates vary widely across payers, with some plans like Denver Health and Wpaa paying $30.00 and $33.00 respectively, while others like Multiplan reach up to $110.00. To ensure fair pricing, patients should compare these negotiated amounts against the Medicare rate rather than the hospital's inflated chargemaster list, as commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare. If you are billed for services not covered by your plan or if you receive a surprise bill, you have the right to dispute the charge under federal protections, and you should