Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $104
- Cash Discount Price: $115
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.19x 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 619% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 519%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $21 - $44 | 125% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $98 | 583% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $109 | 649% |
| Cigna | $109 | 649% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $115 | 685% |
| Aetna | $196 | 1167% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $115.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rates with several major payers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Health Coventry, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and the VA. However, the median amount paid by insurance is $98.00, while the median negotiated rate across all contracts is $104.00. This specific test is priced at 6.2% above the Medicare benchmark of $16.80. Given that the cash price of $115.00 is higher than the median insurance payment of $98.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, provided they confirm the facility offers a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount that could lower this amount further.
It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware of billing protections and audit rights. If you receive a bill significantly higher than the $115.00 cash rate or the $98.00 median paid amount, you may be facing balance billing if you are out-of-network, though the No Surprises Act protects you from such charges for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, you have the right to request an itemized billing audit to verify that every charge corresponds to a service actually rendered and that no unbundled codes or duplicate charges are included. Always review your statement line