Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $84
- Cash Discount Price: $69
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.16x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 616% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 516%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $12 | 88% |
| Humana | $14 | 103% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $14 | 103% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $14 - $209 | 103% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $14 | 103% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $14 | 103% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $14 | 103% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $16 | 117% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $59 - $146 | 433% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $63 - $157 | 462% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $63 - $157 | 462% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $67 - $167 | 492% |
| Aetna | $69 - $209 | 506% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $76 - $188 | 558% |
| Cigna | $80 - $199 | 587% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $80 - $199 | 587% |
| First Health - All Plans | $80 - $199 | 587% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $84 - $209 | 616% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $86 - $213 | 631% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at McPherson Hospital, the cash price of $69.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rates with most major payers, which range from $76.00 to $213.00. While the median negotiated rate across all plans is $84.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price upfront more cost-effective, as the insurance allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that commercial rates for this service are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, reflecting the administrative costs and markup inherent in private insurance contracts.
The facility's cash price of $69.00 is notably lower than the state of Kansas average for this procedure, which typically sits around $80.00 to $90.00, though specific county averages were not provided in the data. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as hospitals often offer reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payments that bypass insurance billing cycles. Additionally, if you have insurance, verify your deductible status before proceeding, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting your deductible could result in higher out-of-pocket costs than paying cash directly.