Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $41
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.35x 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 835% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 735%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $33 | 835% |
| Aetna | $33 | 835% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $33 | 835% |
| Humana | $33 | 835% |
| Cigna | $33 | 835% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Ellinwood District Hospital, the cash median price is $41.00, while the negotiated rate paid by all five major insurers listed—Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Cigna—is $33.00. In this specific case, paying out-of-pocket directly is actually more expensive than the amount your insurance plan would negotiate to pay. This highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial negotiated rates can sometimes be lower than cash prices, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans who may not yet have met their out-of-pocket maximum. To potentially lower costs, patients should verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts for upfront payment, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating this price, it is important to compare it against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charge, as Medicare rates represent a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. For this procedure, the Medicare amount is $3.95, meaning the cash price of $41.00 is significantly higher than the federal baseline, though the negotiated rate of $33.00 remains above the Medicare benchmark. While the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact code, understanding that commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare helps contextualize the pricing. Patients should always request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist and confirm whether any ancillary services, such as lab supplies, are billed separately under different rates.