Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Children'S Mercy South
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $58
- Cash Discount Price: $63
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $15 - $171 | 89% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $18 | 107% |
| Healthy Blue | $18 - $46 | 107% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $23 - $188 | 137% |
| Cigna | $27 - $177 | 161% |
| Medica | $33 - $148 | 196% |
| Aetna | $34 - $173 | 202% |
| Wppa Providrs Care | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Wellfit/Centrus | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Health Midwest Comprehensive Care | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Orscheln | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Centivo | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Quiktrip | $36 - $165 | 214% |
| Humana | $37 - $169 | 220% |
| Coxhealth Network | $41 - $188 | 244% |
| Coventry Health Care Of Kansas | $41 - $188 | 244% |
| Home State Health | $41 | 244% |
| Mercy Health | $42 - $190 | 250% |
| Multiplan | $43 - $193 | 256% |
| American Healthcare Alliance | $48 - $216 | 286% |
| Healthlink | $49 - $224 | 292% |
| National Preferred Provider Network | $50 - $229 | 298% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT code 84443) at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash median price is $63.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $132.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $15 to $229, the cash price often represents a more affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, as commercial negotiated rates frequently exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as hospitals typically offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payments that bypass costly claims processing.
When reviewing your final invoice, it is critical to request a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary statement, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. The facility's Medicare benchmark amount for this procedure is $16.80, and the commercial negotiated rate is 3.5 times the Medicare amount, which aligns with typical commercial pricing structures where rates average 200% to 300% of Medicare. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the negotiated rate and your insurance allowed amount, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act for out-of-network services at this in-network facility, so you should dispute any unexpected charges with your insurer rather than paying immediately.