Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Hodgeman County Health Center
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $42
- Cash Discount Price: $48
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.63x 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 1063% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 963%). 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 | $38 - $57 | 962% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $38 | 962% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $38 - $60 | 962% |
| Humana | $38 | 962% |
| Aetna | $48 | 1215% |
| First Health - All Plans | $54 | 1367% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $57 | 1443% |
| Wppa (Provdrscare) - All Plans | $57 | 1443% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate is $48.00, which is notably lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare ($38–$57) and Medicaid/KanCare ($38–$60). This price difference highlights a key billing principle: for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly can be significantly cheaper than relying on insurance, which often results in higher allowed amounts due to administrative overhead and contract structures. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final cost.
When comparing this facility's pricing to broader benchmarks, the cash rate of $48.00 is higher than the state average but aligns closely with the county average, while the facility's negotiated rates generally exceed the Medicare benchmark of $3.95 by a wide margin. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized bill to ensure no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included. If a patient receives a bill that appears inflated, they should dispute it in writing rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal audit.