Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $554
- Cash Discount Price: $10
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 140.25x 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 14025% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 13925%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $350 | 8861% |
| Providrs Care | $757 | 19165% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, KS, the facility's cash median price is $10.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $554.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates with UnitedHealthcare and Providrs Care are $350 and $757 respectively, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may save money by paying the cash rate directly. It is important to note that while the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, the cash price does not reflect the full chargemaster list; patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they receive the lowest possible rate, as hospitals frequently offer 20% to 50% reductions for upfront payment to bypass administrative billing costs.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $3.95, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care, revealing that commercial negotiated rates can sometimes be substantially higher than the actual cost of delivery. Although the data does not provide a specific county average for comparison, the stark difference between the Medicare rate and the facility's negotiated rates highlights the impact of administrative structures on pricing. Patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive out-of-network services, such as emergency physicians or lab components, even at an in-network facility, and should dispute any unexpected bills by requesting a No Surprises Act audit. Furthermore, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting a summary bill, ensuring