Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $17
- Cash Discount Price: $88
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 | 101% |
| Dean Health Plan | $17 | 101% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $17 | 101% |
| Healthpartners | $17 | 101% |
| Humana | $17 | 101% |
| Medica | $17 | 101% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $17 | 101% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $17 | 101% |
| Ucare Wi | $17 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $17 | 101% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, Wisconsin, the commercial negotiated rate of $17 is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $98 and aligns closely with the state average of $88. While the facility's cash price is listed at $88, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash rate of $88 upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate of $17 is often higher than the cash price due to administrative overhead. It is important to note that the cash price of $88 is higher than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating healthcare costs, revealing that commercial rates can be marked up well above the true cost of delivery.
The data indicates that all 10 payers in-network at this facility, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare, utilize a consistent negotiated rate of $17 for this service, with no variation across different plan types. This uniformity suggests a standardized contract where the administrative load and claims processing costs are baked into the $17 rate, which includes a markup typically ranging from 200% to 300% of the Medicare amount. Patients should be aware that because the negotiated rate of $17 is lower than the cash price of $88, using insurance will result in a lower out-of-pocket cost if the deductible has been met; however, if the deductible is not yet satisfied, the patient may be responsible for the full $17 allowed amount. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay