Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $53
- Cash Discount Price: $118
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.89x 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 389% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 289%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $16 - $118 | 117% |
| Humana | $44 | 323% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $51 - $53 | 374% |
| First Health - All Plans | $106 | 778% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $112 | 822% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $118 | 866% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $118.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the highest negotiated rate for Medicaid. While the facility's cash rate is significantly higher than the state average of $76.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket cheaper if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is also 3.9 times the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, indicating a substantial markup relative to the federal government's cost-based reimbursement.
Commercial insurance contracts often result in higher final costs than cash payments due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. For instance, while Humana and First Health - All Plans have negotiated rates of $44.00 and $106.00 respectively, these figures are still above the cash price of $118.00 for some plans, though others like Blue Cross Blue Shield offer rates between $51.00 and $53.00. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming in-network status guarantees the lowest price is a common pitfall. Additionally, asking the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts prior to check-in can help bypass the costly insurance billing cycle and potentially reduce the final balance.