Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $125
- Cash Discount Price: $92
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.17x 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 917% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 817%). 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 | $118 - $122 | 866% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $125 | 917% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $125 | 917% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $125 | 917% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's negotiated rate of $125 aligns with the median paid amount across all four commercial payers listed, including Aetna and Health Partners. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, reflecting the standard administrative markup inherent in commercial insurance contracts. While the facility offers a cash median price of $92, which is lower than the negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans should verify if paying out-of-pocket upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the administrative overhead often inflates the commercial rate well above the true cost of care.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass the costly insurance billing cycle and reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is also important to remember that the No Surprises Act protects consumers from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so patients should never feel pressured to pay unexpected differences immediately. Finally, if you receive an invoice, always demand a full itemized bill showing specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary total, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.