Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $123
- Cash Discount Price: $60
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.02x 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 902% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 802%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centura Employee Plan | $17 | 125% |
| Aetna | $48 - $120 | 352% |
| Kansas Health | $48 | 352% |
| Medicare (plans) | $48 | 352% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $48 - $125 | 352% |
| Humana | $48 | 352% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $71 | 521% |
| Multiplan | $135 - $140 | 990% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $141 | 1034% |
| Wppa | $143 | 1049% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for ferritin (iron stores) at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $60.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $123.00 and the county average of $135.00. While commercial payers like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates ranging from $48 to $125, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash rate directly. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit church, the negotiated rates reflect the administrative costs and contract dynamics of insurance billing, which can be 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark of $13.63.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates include administrative overhead and do not represent the true cost of care, which is better illustrated by the Medicare rate. If you choose to use insurance, you may face balance billing if services are provided by out-of-network providers, though the No Surprises Act protects you from such bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before paying and dispute any errors in writing, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce your bill by 20% to 50% if you pay upfront, effectively bypassing the costly claims processing cycle that inflates insurance rates.