Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Kansas Heart Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $4
- Cash Discount Price: $9
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic Mcr Adv | $4 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 | 101% |
| Humana | $4 | 101% |
| Tricare | $4 | 101% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $4 | 101% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $6 | 152% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 | 152% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $13 | 329% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, KS, the facility's cash median price is $9.00, while the negotiated rate for commercial payers averages $4.00. This negotiated rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $15.00, reflecting the contractual ceilings that protect in-network members. However, patients should note that cash-pay options can sometimes be more cost-effective than insurance if their plan has a high deductible or if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. The facility's negotiated rate of $4.00 is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, indicating a pricing structure that aligns closely with federal cost standards rather than inflating charges for administrative overhead.
To minimize out-of-pocket costs, patients are encouraged to verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, it is advisable to request a full itemized statement before finalizing payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. While this specific service does not have a separate county or state average listed in the current data, understanding that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative costs that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% helps patients evaluate whether the $4.00 rate represents a fair market value compared to the Medicare baseline.