Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $79
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.03x 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.
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 | $14 | 103% |
| Aetna | $14 | 103% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $14 | 103% |
| Providrs Care | $14 | 103% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $168 - $178 | 1233% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), the facility's cash median price is $79.00. This cash rate is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged by major payers, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Medicaid/KanCare, all of which have a low-end negotiated rate of $14.00. While the data indicates a median paid amount of $14.00 for Medicaid/KanCare, the cash price of $79.00 represents the baseline cost for patients without insurance. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $79.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the negotiated rate exceeds the patient's deductible threshold.
The facility, Wamego Health Center in Wamego, KS, is a Critical Access Hospital with a gross charge of $198.00 for this service. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $13.63, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. The negotiated rates provided by payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $168.00 to $178.00, which are substantially higher than both the cash price and the Medicare rate. Patients should be aware that hospitals often inflate their chargemaster lists to make discounts appear larger; therefore, comparing rates to the Medicare benchmark of $13.63 rather than the gross charge provides a clearer view of the facility's pricing structure. To