Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $69
- Cash Discount Price: $73
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.11x 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 411% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 311%). 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 | $12 - $73 | 71% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $44 | 262% |
| First Health - All Plans | $51 | 304% |
| Tricare | $53 | 315% |
| Aetna | $53 - $69 | 315% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $53 | 315% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $53 | 315% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $58 | 345% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $66 | 393% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $69 | 411% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $69 | 411% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $71 | 423% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $72 | 429% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $72 | 429% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $72 | 429% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $72 | 429% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $73 | 435% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $73 | 435% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $73 | 435% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $110 | 655% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for thyroid (TSH) at Cheyenne County Hospital, the facility's cash price of $73.00 is the lowest amount a patient can pay directly. This cash rate is significantly lower than the median negotiated rate of $69.00 paid by insurance plans, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying cash upfront rather than using their insurance. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in St. Francis, KS, the data provided does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, so patients should verify local pricing trends directly with the hospital or their insurer. It is important to note that while the facility is a voluntary non-profit, the cash price remains the definitive benchmark for self-pay patients, and any "savings" advertised by the hospital are calculated against the gross charge rather than the Medicare rate of $16.80.
Insurance payers negotiate rates that vary widely, ranging from a low of $12.00 for UnitedHealthcare to a high of $110.00 for Providers Care-All Plans, with most plans falling between $44.00 and $73.00. Although the median negotiated rate is $69.00, which is higher than the cash price, patients should be aware that insurance billing involves administrative overhead and potential deductibles that could result in higher out-of-pocket costs. To minimize expenses, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the cash price by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care