Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Girard Medical Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $54
- Cash Discount Price: $92
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.96x 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 396% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 296%). 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 | $53 - $54 | 389% |
| Aetna | $54 - $268 | 396% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $54 | 396% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $54 - $145 | 396% |
| Kansas Superior Select-All Plans | $54 | 396% |
| Humana | $54 | 396% |
| Medicare (plans) | $54 | 396% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $142 | 1042% |
| Uhhis-All Plans | $145 | 1064% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), the gross charge at Girard Medical Center is $153.00. While the facility's cash median price is $92.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans, patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs due to administrative overhead and network tiering. For instance, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated ranges starting at $54.00 and extending up to $268.00 and $145.00 respectively, while Medicare allows a payment of only $13.63. This significant disparity highlights that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price directly can sometimes be more economical than relying on insurance, provided the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price.
To minimize unexpected costs, consumers should actively request a prompt-pay discount or a self-pay rate before scheduling the test, as these upfront payments can bypass the costly insurance billing cycle and administrative fees. It is also important to understand that the facility's negotiated median of $54.00 serves as a ceiling for in-network members, but this does not guarantee the lowest possible price for every individual plan. Furthermore, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider or encounters services billed at the full chargemaster rate, they may face balance billing for the difference between the allowed amount and the full charge; however, the No Surprises Act provides federal protections against such surprise bills for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Finally, patients should always demand a full itemized bill to verify that