Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $4
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smarthealth | $1 - $6 | 25% |
| Medicare (plans) | $4 | 101% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $4 | 101% |
| Va | $4 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 - $11 | 101% |
| Vc Hope | $4 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $4 | 101% |
| Via Christi Research | $4 | 101% |
| Humana | $4 | 101% |
| Corizon | $5 | 127% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $7 | 177% |
| Aetna | $12 | 304% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $16 | 405% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test code 84520 (urea nitrogen), Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc. has a Medicare benchmark of $3.95, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. While the facility's median negotiated rate is $4.00, this figure is slightly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the administrative costs and contract structures inherent in commercial insurance billing. It is important to note that cash-pay rates are not listed for this service, meaning patients without insurance coverage may not be able to utilize the potential savings of paying directly. In cases where a patient has a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price upfront can sometimes be cheaper than the insurance negotiated rate if the deductible has not yet been met, though this specific option is not available here.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance carriers negotiate their own rates, which can vary significantly even within the same facility. For this specific test, the data indicates a range of negotiated amounts across 13 different payers, with some plans potentially paying as low as $1.00 and others up to $12.00 depending on their specific contract terms. Because these rates are contractually agreed upon, they act as a ceiling that prevents billing the full chargemaster list price, but they do not guarantee the lowest possible cost for every individual. To secure the best financial outcome, patients are encouraged to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can offer a fee reduction of 20% to 50% for upfront payment, bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims processing.