Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $30
- Cash Discount Price: $30
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.59x 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 759% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 659%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $27 - $28 | 684% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $27 - $30 | 684% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $30 | 759% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $30 - $33 | 759% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $30 | 759% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $45 | 1139% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash price of $30.00 matches the facility's negotiated rates with all six listed payers, including Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicaid/KanCare. This aligns with the state average for this service, as the cash price is identical to the median negotiated amount. Because the cash price equals the insurance negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket directly is the most cost-effective option, avoiding any potential deductibles or copays. However, patients should always verify if the hospital offers a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the final cost.
While the facility's rates are consistent with the state average, it is important to note that Medicare reimburses for this specific code at $3.95, which is significantly lower than the commercial rates observed. This disparity highlights that commercial negotiated rates often exceed the federal baseline, and comparing your bill to the Medicare amount provides a clearer picture of the facility's pricing markup than comparing it to the hospital's own gross charges. If you receive a bill that appears higher than the $30.00 median, you should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, have inflated the total. Additionally, if you are an out-of-network patient, the No Surprises Act may protect you from balance billing for emergency care or non-emergency services provided at this in-network facility.