Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Golden Valley Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $4
- Cash Discount Price: $32
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $4 | 101% |
| Home State Health | $4 | 101% |
| Humana | $4 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 - $7 | 101% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $5 | 127% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney) procedure at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, the cash median price of $32 is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $54 and the state average of $32. While the cash rate matches the state average exactly, it is notably cheaper than the Medicare benchmark of $3.95, which serves as the federal cost baseline for this service. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price of $32 more favorable than the negotiated rates charged by insurance carriers, which range from $4 to $7 depending on the plan.
The facility offers a median negotiated rate of $4 to in-network payers such as Aetna, Home State Health, Humana, and Ambetter / Centene, though UnitedHealthcare plans show a wider range between $4 and $7. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures, meaning the $4 negotiated rate is still higher than the $32 cash median in this specific dataset, though individual plan limits may vary. To potentially lower costs further, patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing insurance billing cycles. Additionally, if a bill is received, consumers should request a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be disputed in writing to prevent balance billing or double-charging.