Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Overland Park Reg Med Ctr
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $51
- Cash Discount Price: $182
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.04x 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 304% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 204%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $9 - $17 | 54% |
| United | $15 - $158 | 89% |
| Healthyblue | $16 | 95% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $16 | 95% |
| Unicare | $16 | 95% |
| Aetna | $16 - $179 | 95% |
| Amerigroup | $16 | 95% |
| Home State Health Plan | $16 | 95% |
| Wellcare | $17 | 101% |
| Celtic | $17 | 101% |
| Humana | $17 - $41 | 101% |
| Devoted Health | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 - $151 | 101% |
| Coventry | $17 - $141 | 101% |
| Triwest Health Alliance | $18 | 107% |
| Pyramid Life | $18 | 107% |
| Oscar | $26 | 155% |
| Multiplan | $30 - $260 | 179% |
| Nhc Advantage | $31 - $67 | 185% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $31 - $65 | 185% |
| Wppa Providrs Care Network | $33 - $70 | 196% |
| Corvel Corporation | $36 - $228 | 214% |
| Oha Network | $37 - $176 | 220% |
| Universal Healthcare | $58 - $123 | 345% |
| Coventry Kc Mo | $68 - $144 | 405% |
| College Park Family Care Center | $71 - $151 | 423% |
| Focus Healthcare Mgmt, Inc | $124 - $263 | 738% |
| Cco, Inc. | $124 - $263 | 738% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Overland Park Reg Med Ctr, the cash price is $182.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80, reflecting a markup typical of commercial pricing structures where negotiated rates often range between 200% and 300% of Medicare amounts. While many payers have negotiated rates starting as low as $9, others, such as Multiplan and Focus Healthcare Management, have negotiated rates exceeding $260. Patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the $182.00 cash price directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially if their specific plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount or if they have not yet met their deductible.
To minimize potential costs, patients should proactively contact the hospital to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. It is also important to request an itemized bill before agreeing to pay, as summary bills often obscure individual charges that could be disputed. If a patient receives a bill for the difference between the provider's full charge and their insurance allowed amount, they should verify if the service was out-of-network; under the No Surprises Act, balance billing for non-emergency services at in-network facilities is generally prohibited. Finally, patients should avoid signing consent waivers that waive their rights to dispute out-of-network charges without first understanding the specific terms and potential financial impact.