Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $57
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.42x 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 242% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 142%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $9 | 66% |
| Humana | $28 | 205% |
| Aetna | $28 - $54 | 205% |
| Celtic Comm Exch - All Plans | $30 | 220% |
| Partners Direct Health - All Plans | $33 | 242% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $57 | 418% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $60 | 440% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $60 | 440% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS, the cash price is $57.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $33.00 to $60.00 across eight payers. While the cash price is competitive, patients with high-deductible plans may find it beneficial to pay out-of-pocket if their insurance negotiated rates exceed this amount, as the cash price avoids the administrative overhead and markup often found in commercial billing. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming that in-network coverage automatically results in the lowest possible price can lead to unexpected costs if the insurer's contract rate is higher than the cash price.
The facility's cash rate of $57.00 is notably higher than the state average for this procedure, which is $54.00, though it remains close to the county average. When comparing commercial pricing to the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, the facility's rates reflect significant markups typical of the healthcare system, where commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of the Medicare rate. To ensure you are receiving fair pricing, we recommend requesting an itemized billing audit to review the specific CPT codes and unit costs, as summary bills can obscure errors or unbundled charges. Additionally, ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if you pay in full upfront, bypassing the costly claims processing cycle that inflates insurance-based billing.