Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Osborne County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $73
- Cash Discount Price: $68
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.35x 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 435% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 335%). 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 | $61 | 363% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $69 | 411% |
| Wppa | $76 | 452% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $78 | 464% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Osborne County Memorial Hospital in Osborne, KS, the facility's cash median price is $68.00, which is notably lower than the negotiated rates paid by in-network insurers. While UnitedHealthcare, Health Partners Of Kansas, Wppa, and Blue Cross Blue Shield all have a single plan paying $61 to $78 for this service, the cash price of $68.00 represents a potential savings for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance. Although the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the cash rate is still higher than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80, indicating a standard markup typical of commercial billing. Patients should verify if their specific plan has a deductible that would make the insurance negotiated rate more expensive than paying cash upfront.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, effectively bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. It is crucial to request a self-pay classification before check-in and sign a waiver to prevent the hospital from automatically submitting an insurance claim that would void any cash discount. Additionally, since the facility is in-network, the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network emergency services or ancillary procedures, though patients should still review their itemized bill to ensure no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included.