Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $5,237
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.57x 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 $3,342.87 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Usa Managed Care | $1,004 | 30% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,049 | 31% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,080 | 32% |
| Amerigroup | $1,091 | 33% |
| Aetna | $1,091 - $5,975 | 33% |
| First Health | $5,026 | 150% |
| Multiplan | $5,237 | 157% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5,410 | 162% |
| United | $5,766 | 172% |
| Wppa | $6,861 - $9,801 | 205% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $7,305 | 219% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 29881, representing a knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the facility's negotiated rates vary significantly by payer, ranging from a low of $1,004 with Usa Managed Care to a high of $9,801 with Wppa. The median negotiated rate across all payers is $5,237, which is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3,342.87, reflecting a markup of 1.6 times the federal rate. While commercial insurance contracts often establish a ceiling to protect in-network members, these rates can be substantially higher than the cash price, which may offer a more affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their coverage thresholds.
Patients should be aware that the lowest possible cost for this procedure is often found by paying cash directly rather than relying on insurance reimbursement, as administrative fees and contract dynamics frequently inflate the allowed amount. Before scheduling, it is crucial to verify the specific "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount rates with the hospital, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass the standard insurance billing cycle and reduce the total cost. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers should request a detailed, itemized statement before finalizing payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice.