Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Saint John Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $18
- Cash Discount Price: $16
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.07x 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 $16.8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Blue | $16 - $18 | 95% |
| Celtic | $16 - $107 | 95% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $16 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $16 - $24 | 95% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $17 | 101% |
| Tricare | $17 | 101% |
| Cigna | $17 | 101% |
| Medicare (plans) | $17 | 101% |
| Midland Care Connection | $17 | 101% |
| Aetna | $17 - $29 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $21 - $44 | 125% |
| Employer Direct Healthcare | $24 | 143% |
| Well Path | $24 | 143% |
| Corizon | $24 | 143% |
| Centurion | $25 | 149% |
| Naphcare | $26 | 155% |
| Comp Alliance Workers Comp | $34 | 202% |
| Oha Networks | $37 | 220% |
| Worker Compensation | $38 | 226% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth, KS, the facility's cash price of $16.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to most insurance plans, which range from $16.00 to $38.00 depending on the carrier. While the facility's cash rate aligns with the lowest end of the payer spectrum, it is notably lower than the state average for this procedure, which typically hovers around $25.00 to $30.00 based on regional commercial benchmarks. Patients with high-deductible plans or those who have already met their out-of-pocket maximum may find paying the $16.00 cash price more advantageous than relying on insurance, as the negotiated allowed amounts for many payers exceed this cash rate, potentially leaving patients responsible for higher copays or coinsurance.
To minimize unexpected costs, patients should proactively request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the bill by 20% to 50%. It is also critical to avoid accepting summary bills that only show broad category totals; instead, patients should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement to verify that no services were unbundled or double-charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. Finally, if a patient receives a bill for an out-of-network service at this in-network facility, they should not pay immediately out of fear of credit damage but should instead dispute the charge with their insurer to invoke the No Surprises Act protections, ensuring they are not balance billed for services that are legally shielded