Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)

For this blood test for ferritin at University Of Kansas Hospital, the cash price is $18.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $88.00 and the state average of $39.00. While many insurance plans negotiate rates ranging from $18.00 to $107.00, the cash rate remains the lowest option available. If you have a high-deductible plan or are self-pay, paying the cash price directly may save you money compared to your insurance allowing a higher negotiated amount. Patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the final cost.

It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures, even when the facility is in-network. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as a reliable baseline for evaluating fair pricing, as commercial rates can sometimes be inflated relative to this federal standard. If you receive a bill that appears higher than expected, you should request a detailed itemized statement to verify that no services were double-billed or unbundled. Remember that federal protections like the No Surprises Act may prevent balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so always review your specific plan details and billing statements carefully.