Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Community Memorial Healthcare, Inc.
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $54
- Cash Discount Price: $112
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.21x 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 321% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 221%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $25 - $92 | 149% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $31 - $70 | 185% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $44 | 262% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville, Kansas, the cash price is $112.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount of $92.00 and the Medicare benchmark of $16.80. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. In this case, the median negotiated rate is $54.00, which is lower than the cash price, but individual plans may vary; for instance, Aetna's range spans from $25 to $92, and UnitedHealthcare's range is $31 to $70. Because cash-pay can sometimes be cheaper for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash price, it is advisable to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill if paid in full upfront.
When reviewing your statement of account, ensure you are looking at an itemized bill that lists specific CPT codes rather than a summary bill that obscures individual charges. Over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, such as double-billing or unbundled codes, and accepting a summary invoice as the final amount can lead to unnecessary debt. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's chargemaster rate and your insurance payment, remember that the No Surprises Act generally protects you from these unexpected charges for emergency care and non-emergency services