Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $22
- Cash Discount Price: $50
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.57x 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 557% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 457%). 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 | $8 | 203% |
| Humana | $13 - $27 | 329% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $13 - $19 | 329% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $13 - $19 | 329% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $13 - $19 | 329% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $13 - $106 | 329% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $20 - $30 | 506% |
| Cigna | $22 - $32 | 557% |
| Aetna | $22 - $32 | 557% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $30 - $44 | 759% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $30 - $44 | 759% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $31 - $46 | 785% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $36 - $53 | 911% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $50.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $30.00 and the state average of $50.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Atchison, KS, and serves 13 payers, the cash price is notably higher than the median negotiated rate of $22.00 observed across the market. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price of $50.00 more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for many commercial payers, such as UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, often exceed this amount. To minimize costs, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $3.95, which serves as a critical baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. The facility's cash price of $50.00 represents a significant markup compared to the Medicare rate, highlighting the difference between the true cost of care and commercial pricing structures. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit, patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for in-network services under the No Surprises Act, though unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services are out-of-network. Before finalizing payment, consumers are advised to obtain a full itemized billing audit to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have inflated the total, ensuring they are only paying for the