Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: University Of Kansas Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $63
- Cash Discount Price: $16
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.75x 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 375% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 275%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Larned State Hospital [503200090] | $23 - $67 | 137% |
| Health Plan Inc [503999941] | $36 - $107 | 214% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $38 - $114 | 226% |
| Accarent Health [503999034] | $38 - $114 | 226% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Php [503200005] | $46 - $168 | 274% |
| Geha [503200036] | $47 - $138 | 280% |
| Inter-Americas Insurance [503999032] | $47 - $138 | 280% |
| Healthlink [503200007] | $47 - $168 | 280% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $47 - $138 | 280% |
| Cerner [503200038] | $47 - $138 | 280% |
| Med-Pay [503200040] | $47 - $138 | 280% |
| Cigna | $49 - $182 | 292% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $51 - $150 | 304% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $51 - $150 | 304% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $53 - $175 | 315% |
| Ascension Living Hope [503201517] | $54 - $160 | 321% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $54 - $160 | 321% |
| Coeur Plan Services [503301517] | $54 - $160 | 321% |
| Consolidated Billing [50311256] | $54 - $160 | 321% |
| Orscheln Industries [503201608] | $58 - $171 | 345% |
| Alt Lucent Health Solutions [503202603] | $59 - $175 | 351% |
| Alt Lineco [5032000976] | $59 - $175 | 351% |
| Empire Plan/Nyship [503200705] | $59 - $175 | 351% |
| Quiktrip [5032000412] | $62 - $182 | 369% |
| Century Health Solutions [503200054] | $62 - $182 | 369% |
| Point Comfort Underwriters [503200018] | $62 - $182 | 369% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $65 - $192 | 387% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $65 - $192 | 387% |
| Sanford Health Plan [503999027] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
| Employers Health Network [503999025] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
| Plan Care America [503999026] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
| Three Rivers Provider Network [503999029] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $73 - $217 | 435% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for thyroid (TSH) at University Of Kansas Hospital, the cash price of $16.00 is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $23 to $217 depending on the insurance carrier. While the hospital's negotiated rates are generally higher than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance allows for out-of-network cash rates that exceed this amount. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming that being in-network guarantees the lowest price can lead to unexpected costs if the insurer's negotiated rate is higher than the cash price.
The facility's cash rate of $16.00 is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $63.00 and the gross charge of $79.00, offering a clear opportunity for savings through prompt-pay discounts. Patients should proactively request self-pay or prompt-pay rates before check-in and sign a waiver of insurance submission to bypass administrative fees that typically inflate commercial rates by 20% to 40%. By paying upfront, you can avoid the costly claims processing and collection risks that commercial payers absorb, potentially securing a fee reduction of 20% to 50% that aligns closer to the true cost of care represented by the Medicare benchmark.