Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $80
- Cash Discount Price: $64
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.87x 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 $13.63 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 587% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 487%). 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 | $27 | 198% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $64 | 470% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $68 | 499% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $78 | 572% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $80 | 587% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $80 | 587% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $80 | 587% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $80 | 587% |
| Aetna | $80 | 587% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $80 | 587% |
| Medicare (plans) | $80 | 587% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $120 | 880% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, has a cash median price of $64.00 and a negotiated median rate of $80.00. While the facility's cash price is lower than its negotiated rates, it is important to note that insurance plans often pay significantly less than the negotiated amount; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Compalliance-All Plans have negotiated rates of $27.00 and $64.00 respectively. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price of $64.00 more affordable than the amount their insurance would allow, as commercial negotiated rates frequently exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. To potentially lower costs further, patients should contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront.
When reviewing your bill, be aware that hospitals may issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, so it is essential to request a full itemized statement before paying to identify any errors or unbundled codes. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur for ancillary services if not properly verified. For context on pricing fairness, the Medicare amount for this service is $13.63, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's markup; commercial rates are often higher than this federal benchmark due to the inclusion of practice expenses and malpractice insurance.