Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Minneola District Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $11
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.54x 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 354% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 254%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 | 203% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $11 - $16 | 278% |
| Humana | $11 | 278% |
| Va Community Care Program-All Plans | $11 | 278% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $14 | 354% |
| Preferred Health Care (Coventry)-All Other Plans | $14 | 354% |
| Providrs Care Network-All Plans | $14 | 354% |
| Corporate Plan Management-All Plans | $14 | 354% |
| Phc (Coventry) Leased Network | $15 | 380% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $15 | 380% |
| Aetna | $15 - $16 | 380% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $16 | 405% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Minneola District Hospital, the facility's cash median price of $11.00 is lower than the state average of $14.00 and the negotiated rate of $14.00. While commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates ranging from $8 to $16, these amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the insurance negotiated rate can sometimes be higher than the out-of-pocket cash cost. To maximize savings, it is recommended to ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, which can further reduce the final amount owed.
The facility's pricing is also evaluated against the Medicare benchmark, which stands at $3.95 for this procedure. The hospital's cash rate of $11.00 represents a markup of 3.5 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the administrative costs and service delivery associated with this Critical Access Hospital in Minneola, Kansas. Because commercial negotiated rates are often inflated by administrative overhead and contract dynamics, comparing these figures to the Medicare baseline provides a clearer picture of the true cost. Consumers should request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and ensure no unexpected balance billing occurs, as federal protections exist to prevent surprise charges for out-of-network services at in-network facilities.