io.github.costkits/costkits-mcp

CostKits MCP Server

Give Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other MCP clients access to live US healthcare cost data.

CostKits provides procedure cost estimates, patient out-of-pocket calculations, provider pricing, insurance coverage rules, and medical bill analysis using hospital-transparency and CMS data rather than model memory.

Ask healthcare cost questions in natural language. CostKits supplies the structured data and calculations.

A thin Model Context Protocol server for the CostKits API.

What can an agent do with CostKits?

Ask questions such as:

• "What would a colonoscopy cost in Connecticut?"
• "How much would I owe if I have $500 left on my deductible and 20% coinsurance?"
• "Compare MRI prices from providers near Dallas."
• "Does this procedure commonly require prior authorization?"
• "Do these medical bill line items show possible duplicate or unbundled charges?"
• "Resolve 'knee scan' to the correct procedure and estimate the cost."

The MCP server selects the appropriate CostKits API tools and returns structured healthcare cost data the model can explain to the user.

User question
    ↓
MCP client
    ↓
CostKits MCP tool
    ↓
CostKits healthcare cost API
    ↓
Structured estimate, provider pricing, coverage rule, or bill-analysis result

Quick start with Claude Desktop

1. Get a free API key

Create a key at costkits.com/api-keys.

You can test the installation without a key using the demo_estimate tool.

2. Add the MCP server

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "costkits": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@costkits/costkits-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "COSTKITS_API_KEY": "ck_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop

Restart Claude Desktop so it reloads the MCP configuration.

4. Try a prompt

What would a colonoscopy cost me in Connecticut if I have $500 left on my deductible and 20% coinsurance?

The server uses MCP stdio transport and can be used with compatible MCP clients. A tested configuration example is provided for Claude Desktop in examples/claude-desktop-config.json.

Available tools

Cost estimation

Tool	Purpose	Plan
demo_estimate	Return a sample estimate and verify connectivity	None
resolve_procedure	Convert free text into a supported procedure	Builder
estimate_procedure_cost	Estimate procedure cost by geography	Builder
calculate_liability	Calculate patient responsibility from benefit inputs	Builder
full_estimate	Combine procedure, cost, provider, and liability data	Builder

Provider pricing

Tool	Purpose	Plan
find_providers	Find providers with observed negotiated prices	Builder
get_provider	Retrieve a provider profile by NPI	Builder

Procedure and coverage intelligence

Tool	Purpose	Plan
list_procedures	List supported procedures and CPT codes	Builder
get_procedure_details	Retrieve billing bundles and procedure facts	Builder
get_coverage	Retrieve prior auth, cost-sharing, frequency, and trigger rules	Builder (triggers: Pro)
list_carriers	List supported carrier identifiers	Free

Bill analysis

Tool	Purpose	Plan
analyze_bill	Flag possible duplicate, unbundled, or suspicious bill items	Pro

Plans and pricing: costkits-api → plans-and-pricing.

Designed for reliable agent workflows

• Self-correcting errors — API errors include an agent_hint that tells the model what to call next. A typo'd procedure name becomes a resolve-and-retry, not a dead end.
• Transparent estimates — responses include estimate ranges (p25/p50/p75), data sources, data vintage, and model version.
• Structured procedure resolution — agents can translate user language into supported procedure identifiers before estimating costs.
• Minimal sensitive data — bill analysis requires codes and amounts, not names, member IDs, or dates of birth.
• Deterministic insurance math — deductible, coinsurance, copay, and out-of-pocket calculations are performed by the API rather than improvised by the model.

Privacy and data handling

CostKits tools do not require patient names, member IDs, dates of birth, or medical-record identifiers.

For bill analysis, send only the billing codes, descriptions, and amounts needed for analysis. Do not send protected health information.

Configuration

Env var	Required	Default	Purpose
COSTKITS_API_KEY	For all tools except demo_estimate	—	Your ck_... key
COSTKITS_API_BASE	No	https://api.costkits.com	Override for testing

Local development

Requirements:

• Node.js 18 or later
• npm
• A CostKits API key for non-demo tools

git clone https://github.com/costkits/costkits-mcp
cd costkits-mcp
npm install
npm run smoke     # spawns the server and calls demo_estimate over real MCP stdio

Run locally:

COSTKITS_API_KEY=ck_your_key_here npm start

Registry information

• Package: @costkits/costkits-mcp
• Category: Healthcare / Finance / Data
• Transport: stdio
• Authentication: CostKits API key
• Public demo tool: demo_estimate
• Source: github.com/costkits/costkits-mcp

Links

CostKits API docs & examples · costkits.com · Interactive demo · Get an API key

About CostKits

CostKits is a healthcare cost-transparency platform built by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA, a healthcare actuary with more than 20 years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

This MCP server exposes the CostKits API as tools for AI assistants and agents.

Methodology · API documentation

License

MIT