Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $148
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.86x 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 1086% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 986%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Luminare Health | $148 | 1086% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $148 | 1086% |
| Aetna | $148 | 1086% |
| Humana | $148 | 1086% |
| Kansas Solutions | $148 | 1086% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $148 | 1086% |
| Community Care Health Plan Of | $148 | 1086% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $148 | 1086% |
| Meritain Health | $148 | 1086% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas, the negotiated rate is $148.00 across all nine insurance plans, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Humana. This rate is identical to the facility's gross charge, meaning there is no discount applied by the hospital for insurance billing. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data does not provide a specific cash or self-pay price to compare against the negotiated rate. However, patients with high-deductible plans should be aware that paying cash upfront might result in a lower total cost if the hospital offers a prompt-pay discount, as insurance administrative fees can sometimes make the negotiated rate higher than the actual cash price. It is essential to contact the billing department directly to confirm if a self-pay or prompt-pay discount is available before scheduling the test.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The negotiated rate of $148.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the standard administrative and contractual structures of commercial insurance. Since the data indicates no specific county or state average for this procedure, the comparison relies on the federal Medicare rate to illustrate the potential markup. Patients should be cautious of balance billing, as the No Surprises Act generally protects against unexpected bills for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, though it is important to verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab components, are covered under the same network agreement. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized bill to review the specific CPT codes and avoid paying for services that