Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $12
- Cash Discount Price: $13
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.04x 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 304% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 204%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $6 - $13 | 152% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 | 203% |
| Aetna | $9 - $12 | 228% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $9 | 228% |
| First Health - All Plans | $9 | 228% |
| Tricare | $9 | 228% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $9 | 228% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $10 | 253% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $11 | 278% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $12 | 304% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $13 | 329% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $13 | 329% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $13 | 329% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $19 | 481% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 84520, a blood test for urea nitrogen (BUN) at Cheyenne County Hospital, the cash price is $13.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly lower than the median negotiated rate of $12.00 reported for the state of Kansas, making self-pay a potentially more economical option for patients with high-deductible plans. While the facility's cash rate is also lower than the national average for this service, patients should verify their specific insurance coverage, as some plans may negotiate rates higher than the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures, even though commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $6 to $19 for this service. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request an itemized billing audit to ensure all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or billed incorrectly, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. Additionally, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, they may be protected from balance billing for emergency services under the No Surprises Act, but they should still review their statement carefully to dispute any unauthorized charges before paying.