Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $99
- Cash Discount Price: $84
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.26x 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 726% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 626%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthchoice-All Plans | $20 | 147% |
| Tricare | $41 | 301% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $53 | 389% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $84 - $105 | 616% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $92 | 675% |
| Humana | $95 | 697% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $99 | 726% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $99 | 726% |
| Medicare (plans) | $100 | 734% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $100 | 734% |
| Aetna | $100 | 734% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $105 | 770% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $158 | 1159% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $170 | 1247% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), the facility's cash median rate is $84.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most major insurers. While the facility's cash price is notably lower than the gross charge of $105.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying cash upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as many commercial payers have negotiated rates ranging from $92.00 to $170.00. It is important to note that the facility's cash rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, which serves as the federal baseline for cost, and exceeds the state average for this service. Additionally, the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kiowa, KS, and is owned by a Government Hospital District, which may influence their pricing structure and administrative overhead.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is still advisable to request a prompt-pay discount before scheduling, as these hospitals often offer reductions for upfront payment to bypass administrative claim processing costs. If you receive a bill, always demand a full itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. Before finalizing any payment, verify your deductible status and ensure you are comparing rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the inflated chargemaster list price to understand the true value of the service.