Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $27
- Cash Discount Price: $25
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.84x 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 684% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 584%). 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 | $4 - $28 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 | 203% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $24 | 608% |
| First Health-All Plans | $25 | 633% |
| Aetna | $25 | 633% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $25 | 633% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $27 | 684% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $27 | 684% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $27 | 684% |
| Cigna | $28 | 709% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $28 | 709% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the facility's cash price of $25.00 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $27.00 paid by insurance plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a government-local ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs than paying cash upfront. This is particularly relevant for those with high-deductible plans, as the cash price may be more affordable than the insurer's negotiated rate of $27.00, which is slightly higher than the facility's cash median. Additionally, the facility's cash rate is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, reflecting the standard administrative markup inherent in commercial billing structures where rates typically range from 200% to 300% of Medicare amounts.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively request a "prompt-pay" discount, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, effectively bypassing the administrative overhead of insurance claims processing. It is crucial to ask for self-pay classification and prompt-pay rates before check-in and to sign a waiver of insurance submission to prevent automatic claims that would void the cash discount. Furthermore, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should verify that all ancillary services, such as laboratory tests, are covered under the facility's network agreements to avoid unexpected secondary charges.