Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $53
- Cash Discount Price: $42
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $5 - $55 | 37% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $5 - $103 | 37% |
| Tricare | $5 - $55 | 37% |
| Aetna | $5 - $103 | 37% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $5 - $96 | 37% |
| Cigna | $8 - $82 | 59% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $9 - $95 | 66% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $9 - $95 | 66% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 - $103 | 73% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
This report details the pricing for CPT code 82728, a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS. The facility's cash median price is $42.00, which is lower than the state average of $55.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Humana and Aetna range between $5 and $103, these amounts often exceed the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $42.00 upfront may result in significant savings compared to the insurance negotiated rates, provided the patient's deductible has been met. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final cost.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often higher than cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. Although the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive out-of-network ancillary services, such as emergency care or specific lab tests, even at an in-network facility. If a patient receives a bill that exceeds the allowed amount, they should request an itemized audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies. Disputing these errors in writing can help ensure the patient only pays for the actual care received.