Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $88
- Cash Discount Price: $29
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.24x 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 524% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 424%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $32 - $137 | 190% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $32 - $96 | 190% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $32 - $96 | 190% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $38 - $114 | 226% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Aetna | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Php [503200005] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Cigna | $46 - $182 | 274% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $46 - $137 | 274% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $54 - $160 | 321% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $65 - $194 | 387% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $69 - $205 | 411% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus, the facility's cash price of $29.00 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates paid by insurance companies, which range from $32 to $205 depending on the payer. While the facility's cash rate is also lower than the state average of $89.00, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as many commercial payers negotiate rates that exceed the cash price. To secure the lowest possible amount, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final cost before any insurance claim is processed.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates often include administrative overhead and do not reflect the true cost of care, which is better represented by the Medicare benchmark of $16.80. Although the facility's negotiated rates are generally higher than the Medicare rate, the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, meaning you should not pay the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance allowed amount for covered services. If you receive a bill that appears to include unexpected charges, you have the right to request a formal itemized audit to verify that all services rendered were accurately coded and that no unbundled charges or errors were included in the total.