Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $117
- Cash Discount Price: $115
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.58x 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 $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 858% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 758%). 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 | $53 | 389% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $117 | 858% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the cash price is $115.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $135.00. While the median negotiated rate for in-network payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare is $117.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their insurance allows a higher amount than the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, reflecting the administrative costs and provider fees included in commercial billing structures.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to the administrative overhead of claims processing and contract management. If you are self-paying, you can often reduce your bill by requesting a "prompt-pay" discount before check-in, which may lower the cost further. Additionally, if you have insurance, ensure you are not signing away your rights to dispute out-of-network charges, as the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Always request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or billed for that were not rendered.