Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Lmh
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $23
- Cash Discount Price: $79
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.69x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $12 - $319 | 88% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $12 - $203 | 88% |
| Medicare (plans) | $14 - $314 | 103% |
| Humana | $14 - $314 | 103% |
| Allwell | $14 | 103% |
| Haskell Indian Health Services | $14 | 103% |
| Cigna | $14 - $314 | 103% |
| Aetna | $15 - $261 | 110% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $21 | 154% |
| Non Contracted | $251 | 1842% |
| First Health | $292 | 2142% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), the facility in Lawrence, KS, has a cash median price of $79.00. This cash rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $314.00 and aligns closely with the maximum negotiated rate of $314.00 seen across several major payers like UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Medicare. While the facility is in-network for most commercial plans, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and can exceed the cash price. For individuals with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $79.00 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to meeting a deductible before the insurance pays its share of a higher negotiated rate.
When evaluating the cost relative to Medicare benchmarks, the facility's cash rate of $79.00 is approximately 5.8 times the Medicare amount of $13.63, which falls well above the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. This markup is common in commercial settings where administrative costs and risk premiums are factored in. To potentially reduce this cost, patients should 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. Additionally, since the facility is a government-owned acute care hospital, patients should request a detailed, itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are present before finalizing payment.