Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $77
- Cash Discount Price: $61
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.65x 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 565% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 465%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers - All Plans | $69 | 506% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $73 | 536% |
| Aetna | $73 | 536% |
| First Health - All Plans | $77 | 565% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $77 | 565% |
| Cigna | $77 | 565% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $77 | 565% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the cash price is $61.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $77.00 for all seven listed payers, including Rural Carriers, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital about any "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they are not charged the full negotiated rate.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this code, the significant difference between the Medicare rate and the cash price highlights the potential for substantial savings when paying out-of-pocket. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges are present, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. If a balance bill or unexpected charge arises, patients should dispute the bill in writing with the billing supervisor rather than accepting summary invoices or signing away their rights via consent waivers.