Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $135
- Cash Discount Price: $106
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.04x 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 804% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 704%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers - All Plans | $120 | 714% |
| Aetna | $128 | 762% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $128 | 762% |
| First Health - All Plans | $135 | 804% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $135 | 804% |
| Cigna | $135 | 804% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $135 | 804% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the cash price is $106.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $135.00 and the state average of $135.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is important to note that while the facility offers a cash rate, patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront payments can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $16.80, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. The facility's negotiated rate of $135.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the standard administrative load and contract dynamics between commercial payers and providers. Although the data shows a specific comparison metric of 8.0 against Medicare, the primary takeaway for consumers is that the cash price of $106.00 remains the most transparent and potentially lowest cost option available for this procedure, provided the patient can afford the upfront payment without incurring additional administrative costs.