Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $128
- Cash Discount Price: $108
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.62x 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 762% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 662%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthchoice-All Plans | $25 | 149% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $44 | 262% |
| Tricare | $53 | 315% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $108 - $135 | 643% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $119 | 708% |
| Humana | $122 | 726% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $127 | 756% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $127 | 756% |
| Aetna | $128 | 762% |
| Medicare (plans) | $128 | 762% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $128 | 762% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 804% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $202 | 1202% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $218 | 1298% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Kiowa District Hospital in Kiowa, KS, the cash price is $108, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates with most major payers. While the hospital's cash rate is slightly above the state average of $108, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying out-of-pocket cheaper if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts may result in higher charges than the cash price. Additionally, patients should ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill if paid in full upfront.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $16.8, serving as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates for this procedure average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare rate, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of Medicare. In this case, the median negotiated rate of $127 aligns closely with the facility's cash price, suggesting a transparent pricing structure. However, patients should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual line items; requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is the most effective way to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered before finalizing payment.