Thyroid test (TSH) Cost by Hospital

Thyroid test (TSH) is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2301 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$87median cash price · 2301 hospitals, 52 statestypically $25–$251 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$164
Cash / self-pay
$87
Insurer-negotiated
$30
Medicare pays
$17
$25$251
Median cash $87  ·  Medicare $17  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $87 — about 5.2× the Medicare rate ($17). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($34).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $164 list price could save about $77 (47%).

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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Mercy Medical Center of Mt Shasta Mount Shasta, CA $13 $15 ★ 4/5 96 min 14.7%
Clark Fork Valley Hospital Plains, MT $13 $27 — 153 min 14.7%
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA $13 $137 ★ 5/5 369 min 14.3%
King's Daughters Medical Center-Brookhaven Brookhaven, MS $14 $23 ★ 3/5 136 min 15.3%
West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $14 $18 ★ 3/5 203 min 16.3%
St Joseph's Hospital-Savannah Savannah, GA $14 $22 ★ 2/5 206 min 14.7%
Mercy Hospital-Cassville Cassville, MO $14 $21 — 93 min 15.3%
Grant Memorial Hospital Petersburg, WV $14 — ★ 3/5 105 min 15.4%
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $15 $21 ★ 4/5 275 min 14.5%
Mercy Hospital Aurora Aurora, MO $15 $22 — 129 min 15.0%
Mercy St Francis Hospital Mountain View, MO $15 $22 — 109 min 14.7%
Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner Kenner, LA $15 $21 ★ 4/5 149 min 15.3%
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $15 $61 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.1%
Conway Medical Center Conway, SC $15 $17 ★ 2/5 134 min 15.6%
Banner-University Medical Center Tucson Campus Tucson, AZ $15 $18 ★ 3/5 306 min 14.6%
University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX $15 $17 ★ 3/5 242 min 15.4%
Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA $15 $17 ★ 5/5 124 min 14.7%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $15 $32 ★ 2/5 104 min 15.3%
St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA $15 $17 ★ 2/5 181 min 15.7%
Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas Galena, KS $16 $20 — — 14.3%
Mercy Hospital Southeast Cape Girardeau, MO $16 $20 ★ 2/5 160 min 15.1%
Mercy Hospital Stoddard Dexter, MO $16 $20 ★ 2/5 176 min 14.7%
Mercy Hospital Watonga, Inc Watonga, OK $16 $20 — 94 min —
Mercy Hospital Logan County Guthrie, OK $16 $21 — 68 min 15.4%
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $16 $31 — — —

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Thyroid test (TSH)

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $87; Medicare pays $17.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Amerigroup 176
$17
$7 – $45
Tricare / VA 459
$17
$15 – $90
Medicare 597
$17
$16 – $63
Medicaid 374
$17
$7 – $66
Independent Health 52
$17
$13 – $38
UnitedHealthcare 1574
$17
$13 – $150
Univera 16
$18
$11 – $25
Devoted Health 242
$18
$17 – $20
Molina Healthcare 572
$18
$11 – $75
Centene / Ambetter 848
$18
$14 – $86
Humana 1099
$19
$17 – $167
MVP Health Care 81
$20
$11 – $163
Highmark 129
$20
$11 – $77
Bright Health 65
$20
$17 – $36
EmblemHealth 63
$22
$9 – $128
Kaiser Permanente 233
$23
$12 – $165
AmeriHealth 244
$23
$14 – $107
Anthem 601
$24
$8 – $129
Oscar Health 205
$27
$17 – $116
UPMC Health Plan 88
$29
$17 – $101
UCare 62
$29
$11 – $104
Health Net 320
$32
$15 – $368
Geisinger 70
$32
$17 – $81
SelectHealth 49
$33
$17 – $194
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1375
$34
$16 – $165
Priority Health 59
$36
$11 – $132
Medica 245
$36
$17 – $154
Aetna 1461
$38
$16 – $181
AvMed 59
$40
$13 – $293
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 154
$42
$18 – $280
Cigna 1220
$43
$17 – $204
HealthPartners 273
$45
$17 – $158
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$57
$17 – $155
Sanford Health Plan 70
$58
$17 – $141
Coventry 164
$65
$17 – $229
Security Health Plan 51
$67
$17 – $101
MultiPlan / PHCS network 877
$111
$24 – $300
Healthcare Highways 51
$140
$27 – $431

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
New Jersey$37
Maryland$43
Tennessee$48
Mississippi$50
Rhode Island$51
Oklahoma$51

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDNew York, NYAustin, TXCincinnati, OHDallas, TXFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CAMilwaukee, WIOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYBrooklyn, NYCharlotte, NCOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALBoston, MAHouston, TXKansas City, MONew Orleans, LARochester, NY

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioPennsylvaniaNew YorkIllinoisWisconsinMinnesotaNorth CarolinaLouisianaMichiganGeorgiaFloridaTennesseeNebraskaMissouriColoradoOklahomaKentuckyArkansasIowaIndianaSouth DakotaWashingtonNew JerseyKansasArizonaVirginiaMarylandMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoUtahNew MexicoNew HampshireConnecticutNevadaPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontRhode IslandDelawareAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2301 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $87, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $164, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $30, a Medicare rate of about $17. Most cash prices fall between $25 and $251 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Thyroid test (TSH) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2301 US hospitals is $87. Most hospitals fall between $25 and $251. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Thyroid test (TSH)?
Medicare pays about $17. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Thyroid test (TSH) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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