Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $32
- Cash Discount Price: $24
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.10x 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 $3.95 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 810% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 710%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners - All Plans | $15 - $51 | 380% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $15 - $51 | 380% |
| Aetna | $15 - $50 | 380% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $15 - $51 | 380% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for urea nitrogen (BUN) at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $24.00 is lower than the state average, which sits at $32.00. While the facility's negotiated rate with most payers, including Health Partners, Pponext, and MPI, is $32.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash rate is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95 when adjusted for the local wage index, indicating a significant markup on the federal baseline.
Commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs than direct cash payment due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. Although the facility offers a median negotiated rate of $32.00, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates can vary significantly. Additionally, asking about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts prior to check-in can help reduce the final bill, as hospitals frequently offer fee reductions for upfront payments to bypass costly claims processing. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement to ensure all charges are accurate before making any payment.