Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $37
- Cash Discount Price: $31
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.37x 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 937% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 837%). 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 | $6 | 152% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 | 203% |
| Tricare | $15 | 380% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $31 - $39 | 785% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $34 | 861% |
| Humana | $35 | 886% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $37 | 937% |
| Aetna | $37 | 937% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $37 | 937% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $37 | 937% |
| Medicare (plans) | $37 | 937% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $39 | 987% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $58 | 1468% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $63 | 1595% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Kiowa District Hospital, the cash median price is $31.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans. While the facility's cash rate is $31.00, the median negotiated rate across payers is $37.00, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying cash directly, provided they have no other coverage. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kiowa, KS, and is owned by a Government Hospital District, the data does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure. Patients should verify with the hospital whether "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available, as these programs can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative costs associated with insurance claims.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $3.95, which serves as a baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. Commercial negotiated rates, such as the $37.00 median paid by insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Tricare, are significantly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the administrative overhead and contract structures inherent in commercial insurance. To ensure you are not overcharged, it is recommended to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as summary bills often obscure individual code costs and potential errors. If you receive a bill that appears inflated, you can dispute it in writing with the billing supervisor to avoid paying for unbundled services or tests that were not rendered.