Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Minneola District Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $58
- Cash Discount Price: $45
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.45x 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 345% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 245%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Community Care Program-All Plans | $43 | 256% |
| Humana | $43 | 256% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $43 - $64 | 256% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $44 | 262% |
| Corporate Plan Management-All Plans | $54 | 321% |
| Providrs Care Network-All Plans | $54 | 321% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $58 | 345% |
| Preferred Health Care (Coventry)-All Other Plans | $58 | 345% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $61 | 363% |
| Aetna | $61 - $64 | 363% |
| Phc (Coventry) Leased Network | $61 | 363% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $64 | 381% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Minneola District Hospital, the cash price of $45.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $58.00 and the median negotiated rate of $58.00 across payers. This suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying cash directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to using an in-network insurer, as the commercial negotiated rates often exceed the cash price. Since the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare have a range of $43 to $64, while others such as Va Community Care Program and Humana have a fixed rate of $43.
The facility's cash rate of $45.00 is also notably lower than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80 when adjusted for the local wage index, which typically results in commercial rates being 200% to 300% of the Medicare base. While the facility is government-owned, patients should inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, it is advisable to request a detailed, itemized statement before finalizing payment to ensure no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included in the final invoice.