Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $37
- Cash Discount Price: $30
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.37x 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 937% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 837%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $34 | 861% |
| Aetna | $36 | 911% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $36 | 911% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $37 | 937% |
| First Health-All Plans | $38 | 962% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $38 | 962% |
| Cigna | $38 | 962% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the cash price of $30.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $37.00 and the median paid amount of $37.00. While the facility's cash rate is slightly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, it remains significantly below the gross charge of $40.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $30.00 cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate of $37.00 exceeds the cash option. It is important to verify if the facility offers additional self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce out-of-pocket costs by bypassing administrative fees associated with insurance claims.
This service is provided by a Critical Access Hospital, and the pricing data reflects a single payer plan for each of the seven commercial carriers listed, ranging from $34.00 to $38.00. Because the facility is a voluntary non-profit, the negotiated rates are contractually capped but often include administrative overhead that can inflate the final bill. Consumers should be aware that summary bills may not reveal the specific CPT code details, so requesting an itemized audit is a critical step to identify any unbundled charges or services not rendered. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network ancillary service, patients should not pay immediately; instead, they should dispute the charge with their insurer and request a No Surprises Act audit to protect against unexpected costs.