Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $23
- Cash Discount Price: $35
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 | 152% |
| Tricare | $8 - $27 | 203% |
| Humana | $8 - $27 | 203% |
| Medicare (plans) | $8 - $27 | 203% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $9 - $30 | 228% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $15 - $51 | 380% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $15 - $51 | 380% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $15 - $48 | 380% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $23 - $75 | 582% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS, the cash price is $35.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, reflecting a markup common in commercial billing where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should note that commercial negotiated rates for this service range from $21.00 to $75.00 depending on the insurance plan, with the lowest negotiated amount being $21.00. Because commercial rates can sometimes exceed the cash price, individuals with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash rate directly, provided they verify the specific negotiated amount for their carrier.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront, bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims. It is also important to request a full itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected. While the facility's facility rating is 2 out of 5, the pricing data indicates that the cash rate of $35.00 is the most transparent baseline for comparison, as comparing discounts against the inflated chargemaster list can be misleading. Consumers are encouraged to confirm their deductible status and ensure they are not inadvertently triggering balance billing by verifying that all ancillary services are covered under