Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $38
- Cash Discount Price: $28
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.26x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 226% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 126%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $38 | 226% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $38 | 226% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $38 | 226% |
| Lucent Health [6000] | $38 | 226% |
| Web Tpa [2115] | $38 | 226% |
| Aetna | $38 | 226% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $38 | 226% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $38 | 226% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $46 | 274% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $53 | 315% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $53 | 315% |
| Cigna | $53 | 315% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $53 | 315% |
| Humana | $54 | 321% |
| First Health [1375] | $71 | 423% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $71 | 423% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $71 | 423% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $71 | 423% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $75 | 446% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at the University of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus in Topeka, KS, the facility's cash price of $28.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by insurance plans, which range from $38.00 to $75.00. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price most advantageous, as it avoids the administrative markup inherent in insurance billing. It is important to note that while the facility's cash rate is lower than the state average, the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield are higher than the cash price, illustrating that being in-network does not always guarantee the lowest cost. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $16.80, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure; the cash price of $28.00 is approximately 1.7 times the Medicare rate, while the median negotiated rate of $38.00 is roughly 2.3 times the Medicare amount. This data highlights that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to direct cash payment for this specific procedure. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as hospitals may bundle charges or include services not rendered. If a patient receives a balance bill from an