Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Providence Medical Center
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 - $27 | 95% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $16 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $16 - $28 | 95% |
| Cigna | $17 | 101% |
| Tricare | $17 | 101% |
| Medicare (plans) | $17 | 101% |
| Midland Care Connection | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 - $40 | 101% |
| Aetna | $17 - $29 | 101% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $18 | 107% |
| Corizon | $22 | 131% |
| Employer Direct Healthcare | $24 | 143% |
| Well Path Prison | $24 | 143% |
| Centurion | $25 | 149% |
| Naphcare | $26 | 155% |
| Comp Alliance - Fka Compresults Worker Compensation | $34 | 202% |
| Oha Networks | $37 | 220% |
| Worker Compensation | $38 | 226% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $16.00 is significantly lower than the state average of $45.00. While many commercial payers negotiate rates ranging from $16 to $40, the cash price remains the most affordable option for patients without insurance. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash rate upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these programs can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative fees associated with insurance claims.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract structures, making them less transparent than Medicare benchmarks. For this service, the Medicare allowed amount is $16.80, which serves as a reliable baseline for evaluating fair pricing; commercial negotiated rates frequently hover between 100% and 200% of this figure. If you receive a bill that appears to include balance billing for out-of-network services, remember that the No Surprises Act protects you from being charged the difference between the provider's full list price and your insurance payment for emergency care or non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Always request a detailed, itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit.