Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Morris County Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $23
- Cash Discount Price: $36
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.82x 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 582% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 482%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $2 | 51% |
| Providrs Care (Wppa)(Nexus)-All Plans | $4 | 101% |
| Aetna | $6 | 152% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 - $23 | 203% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $23 - $60 | 582% |
| Coventry Mcr | $23 | 582% |
| Choice Care Mcr Adv-All Plans | $23 | 582% |
| Cigna | $43 | 1089% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $54 | 1367% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $54 | 1367% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, Kansas, the facility's cash price of $36.00 is notably higher than the state average of $33.00. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, patients should note that commercial insurance negotiated rates vary significantly; for instance, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $23.00 to $60.00, which can exceed the cash price. In cases where your insurance deductible has not yet been met, or if your plan's negotiated rate is higher than the cash price, paying out-of-pocket might result in lower out-of-pocket costs. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $3.95, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of delivery. The facility's cash rate of $36.00 represents a significant markup over this federal standard, illustrating why comparing against the gross list price can be misleading. Additionally, while the hospital is in-network for many payers, patients should be aware that even at in-network facilities, specific lab services or ancillary items may be billed separately. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a detailed, itemized bill before finalizing payment and verify that all services listed were actually rendered to avoid balance billing