Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $57
- Cash Discount Price: $82
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.18x 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 418% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 318%). 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 | $11 - $78 | 81% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $22 | 161% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $53 | 389% |
| Medicare (plans) | $62 | 455% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $68 | 499% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $78 | 572% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $82.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average of $65.00, meaning patients paying out-of-pocket are currently paying above the typical rate for this service in Kansas. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiate rates ranging from $11 to $78, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the $82.00 cash price upfront might be more cost-effective than using insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount could be higher than the cash rate, potentially leaving you responsible for a larger deductible portion or balance billing.
To minimize costs, it is essential to verify if the hospital offers a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling your visit, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. Additionally, while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should request an itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected. For context on pricing fairness, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating the facility's markup; commercial rates are often 200% to 300% of this baseline, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150%. Always check your specific