Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $27
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.58x 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 $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 658% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 558%). 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 | $1 | 25% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $1 | 25% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $26 | 658% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $27 | 684% |
| Humana | $27 | 684% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Stafford County Hospital, the cash price is $27.00, which matches the median amount paid by patients using insurance. This rate is significantly lower than the state average, as indicated by a 6.6% variance compared to Medicare benchmarks. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, KS, and owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans might find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds $27.00. It is always advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final cost before any insurance claim is processed.
When reviewing your bill, ensure you receive an itemized statement rather than a summary invoice, as hospitals often use broad categories to obscure individual charges. If you receive a bill for more than $27.00, request a line-by-line audit to check for errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, remember that the $27.00 cash rate is not necessarily the lowest possible price; commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the allowed amount. Before scheduling, verify your deductible status and confirm whether the facility offers a prompt-pay discount to avoid paying the full negotiated rate out of pocket.