Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $34
- Cash Discount Price: $73
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.02x 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 202% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 102%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Health | $10 - $57 | 60% |
| Kaiser | $11 - $67 | 65% |
| Direct To Employer | $11 - $97 | 65% |
| Cigna | $16 - $22 | 95% |
| Peak Health | $16 - $94 | 95% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $16 - $59 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $16 - $113 | 95% |
| Innovage | $16 | 95% |
| Kansas Health | $16 | 95% |
| Medicare (plans) | $16 | 95% |
| Devoted Health | $16 | 95% |
| Humana | $16 | 95% |
| Aetna | $16 - $153 | 95% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $21 | 125% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $25 | 149% |
| Multiplan | $29 - $206 | 173% |
| Wpaa | $128 | 762% |
| Christian Health Aid | $146 | 869% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $177 | 1054% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, the facility's cash price of $73.00 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans, which range from $10 to $206 depending on the carrier. While the facility's cash rate is higher than its own self-pay median of $43.00, it remains well below the gross chargemaster of $182.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as many commercial payers negotiate rates that exceed this amount; for instance, Aetna's negotiated range extends up to $153, and Multiplan's single plan reaches $206. To secure the lowest possible cost, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the bill by bypassing administrative processing costs.
This service is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a fixed reimbursement rate of $16.80 for this procedure, highlighting that commercial rates often include substantial markups for administrative overhead and network agreements. The facility's cash rate of $73.00 is approximately 4.3 times the Medicare amount, illustrating the typical markup found in private sector pricing. If you have insurance, it is crucial to verify your specific plan's allowed amount, as some contracts may pay less than the cash price, potentially leading to balance billing if you are treated out-of-network. To avoid unexpected charges, always request an itemized bill before paying and dispute any errors, as over 80%