Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $12
- Cash Discount Price: $12
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.04x 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 304% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 204%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $7 | 177% |
| Humana | $7 | 177% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $9 - $14 | 228% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $9 - $14 | 228% |
| Aetna | $9 - $13 | 228% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $10 | 253% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $12 | 304% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $13 | 329% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $14 | 354% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in Wakeeney, KS, the cash median price is $12.00, which is $3.00 higher than the Medicare benchmark rate of $3.95. While the facility's negotiated rates for major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Medicaid/KanCare range between $9.00 and $14.00, the cash price of $12.00 may actually be the most cost-effective option for patients with high-deductible plans or those who have already met their out-of-pocket limits. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the baseline price by 20% to 40%, paying cash upfront can sometimes bypass these layers entirely. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the negotiated rate without meeting the deductible could result in higher out-of-pocket costs than the cash price.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request a full itemized bill before paying any invoice, as summary bills often obscure individual code costs and potential errors. Over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes, such as double-billing or unbundled charges, and patients should dispute any discrepancies in writing rather than accepting a verbal settlement. Additionally, if you receive a balance bill for services rendered at an in-network facility, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers. Finally, ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total amount owed by 20% to