Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Grisell Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $56
- Cash Discount Price: $90
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.33x 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 333% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 233%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $16 - $71 | 95% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $41 | 244% |
| Humana | $95 | 565% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $95 | 565% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, KS, the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $41 to $95, while the cash price is $90. It is important to note that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures; therefore, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price of $90 upfront to be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in a higher allowed amount. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill by bypassing costly claims processing and collection fees.
When evaluating the cost against broader benchmarks, the facility's cash price of $90 is notably higher than the state average for this service, though the data provided does not include specific county averages for Kansas to make a direct local comparison. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $16.80, which serves as the objective baseline for fair pricing; commercial rates are typically marked up significantly above this federal standard. To ensure you are not overcharged, request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. Finally, if you receive a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits providers from billing you for the difference between their rate and your insurance's allowed amount for emergency or non-emergency care at