Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $4
- Cash Discount Price: $30
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $4 | 101% |
| Dean Health Plan | $4 | 101% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $4 | 101% |
| Healthpartners | $4 | 101% |
| Humana | $4 | 101% |
| Medica | $4 | 101% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $4 | 101% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $4 | 101% |
| Ucare Wi | $4 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 | 101% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
Self-pay patients should know that paying cash upfront for this blood test can be significantly more affordable than using insurance, as the facility's cash rate of $30 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $40 per plan. While Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI, lists a gross charge of $34, the actual cost varies by payment method; patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price or potential prompt-pay discounts preferable if their insurance negotiated rates exceed the cash amount. It is crucial to ask the hospital specifically about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can bypass the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
Broader rate context shows that this service is priced at a Medicare benchmark of $3.95, with the facility's cash rate of $30 representing a markup relative to that federal baseline. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average figures for comparison, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the final bill. To ensure transparency, patients should request a detailed, itemized billing audit before paying, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. Additionally, if any out-of-network ancillary services are involved, the No Surprises Act protects patients from surprise balance billing for emergency or non-emergency care at in-network facilities.