Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Hiawatha Community Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $104
- Cash Discount Price: $134
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.63x 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 763% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 663%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $50 | 367% |
| Aetna | $50 - $108 | 367% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $50 - $115 | 367% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $51 - $53 | 374% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $60 | 440% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $100 | 734% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $100 | 734% |
| Preferred Hlth - All Plans | $121 | 888% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $127 | 932% |
| Cigna | $127 | 932% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $130 | 954% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $130 | 954% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $134 | 983% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Hiawatha Community Hospital in Hiawatha, KS, the cash price is $134.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average, as the median paid amount across all payers is $60.00. While commercial insurance contracts often result in negotiated rates that can exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurer's negotiated rate for this specific code is higher than $134.00. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling to ensure you are not paying more than necessary.
The facility offers a median negotiated rate of $104.00, which is lower than the cash price but still represents a markup relative to the Medicare benchmark of $13.63. This indicates that the commercial rate is approximately 7.6 times the Medicare amount, highlighting the significant difference between federal cost-based reimbursement and commercial pricing. To potentially reduce your out-of-pocket costs, you should ask the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can range from 20% to 50% off the billed amount when paid upfront. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a detailed, itemized statement before paying is a critical step to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered.