Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $7
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.77x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $4 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 - $9 | 101% |
| Cigna | $4 - $8 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $7 - $10 | 177% |
| Medica | $8 | 203% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney) procedure at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute, the Medicare benchmark rate is $3.95, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. While the facility's median negotiated rate is $7.00, this figure represents the average amount commercial insurers pay under contract and does not reflect the lowest possible cost for a patient. In this specific case, the cash price is not available in the data, so patients should verify current self-pay or prompt-pay discounts directly with the hospital before scheduling, as paying upfront can sometimes result in a lower total than the insurance negotiated rate.
It is important to understand that commercial rates often exceed Medicare benchmarks due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics, with fair pricing typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. Although the facility is located in Leawood, KS, and the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this code, patients should be aware that using the chargemaster list as a benchmark is misleading, as hospitals inflate list prices to make discounts appear larger. To ensure you are receiving the best possible rate, request an itemized billing audit to identify any errors or unbundled charges, and confirm whether your specific insurance plan has met its deductible before relying on the negotiated rate.