Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Osborne County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $35
- Cash Discount Price: $32
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.86x 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 886% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 786%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $29 | 734% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $33 | 835% |
| Wppa | $36 | 911% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $37 | 937% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure at Osborne County Memorial Hospital, the cash price of $32.00 is notably lower than the facility's gross charge of $38.00. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital in Osborne, Kansas, the provided data does not include specific county or state average rates for comparison. However, the cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, which serves as the federal baseline for the true cost of care. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $32.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures.
Insurance payers in this region, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, have negotiated rates ranging from $29.00 to $37.00, which are generally higher than the cash price. This pricing dynamic highlights the importance of checking for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as hospitals often offer fee reductions for upfront payment to bypass costly claims processing. If you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or encounter unexpected charges, you have the right to request an itemized audit to identify errors or unbundled codes, and you may be protected from balance billing for emergency services under the No Surprises Act. Always verify your deductible status and request a waiver of insurance submission if you intend to pay cash to ensure you receive the best possible rate.