Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $10
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.58x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 658% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 558%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $9 - $47 | 228% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $9 - $33 | 228% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $9 - $33 | 228% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $10 - $40 | 253% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Php [503200005] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Aetna | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Cigna | $13 - $63 | 329% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $13 - $47 | 329% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $15 - $55 | 380% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $18 - $67 | 456% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $19 - $71 | 481% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at the University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, the cash price is $10.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $50.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $9 to $71, the cash price of $10.00 is notably lower than the state average for this service. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price more advantageous than using insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible cost, patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
This service is benchmarked against Medicare, which reimburses $3.95 for this procedure. The facility's cash price of $10.00 is 6.6% higher than the Medicare rate, reflecting the additional costs of facility overhead and administrative services not covered by the federal baseline. Although the facility is owned by a hospital district and holds a 4-star rating, patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to cash payment. If a patient receives an itemized bill that includes unexpected charges or broad category summaries, they should request a full line-by-line audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through formal written disputes.