Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $870
- Cash Discount Price: $106
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 51.79x 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 5179% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 5079%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Associates Health Plan - Tri | $870 | 5179% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
If you are paying cash for this blood test, thyroid (TSH) procedure at Regional Medical Center, the most important thing to know is that the cash price is $106. This rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $133 and the commercial negotiated rate of $870, which is what your insurance plan typically pays. Because the cash price is so low, it may actually be your best financial option if you have a high-deductible plan or no insurance, as the insurance negotiated rate of $870 far exceeds what you would pay out-of-pocket. It is always advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce your bill by bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims.
The broader rate context for this service in Manchester, Iowa, shows that the facility's cash rate of $106 is substantially higher than the state average of $51 and the county average of $870. While the cash price is higher than the state average, it remains much lower than the commercial negotiated rate of $870, which is consistent with how commercial contracts often include administrative overhead that pushes prices well above the actual cost of care. For transparency, the Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $16.80, which serves as the federal baseline for the true cost of delivery; commercial rates are often marked up significantly above this figure. Patients should remember that hospitals issue summary bills that hide individual line items, so requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is the most effective way to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges before finalizing payment.