Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Clay County Medical Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $114
- Cash Discount Price: $120
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.36x 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 $13.63 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 836% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 736%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $112 | 822% |
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $112 | 822% |
| Multiplan- All Plans | $114 | 836% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $114 | 836% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $114 | 836% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, KS, the cash price is $120.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate of $114.00 and the median paid by insurers at $112.00. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, charges significantly less than the state average, as indicated by a comparison metric of 8.4 against the broader KS market. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and others negotiate rates between $112.00 and $114.00, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the full cash price of $120.00 more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure, though in this specific case, the cash price is already at the maximum negotiated rate.
To minimize costs, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may not be covered until that threshold is met. Although the No Surprises Act generally protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before check-in to ensure the billing system does not automatically submit a claim that could void a cash agreement. If a detailed itemized bill is received, consumers should review it line-by-line to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute rather than accepting a summary invoice.