Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, Llc
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $3,000
- Cash Discount Price: $3,523
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $2,940 | 88% |
| Aetna | $3,000 - $3,750 | 90% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $3,000 - $3,630 | 90% |
| United Mine Workers Of America | $3,000 | 90% |
| Providrs Care Network | $3,000 | 90% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $3,000 - $3,500 | 90% |
| Lantern Specialty Care | $4,801 | 144% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 29881, representing a knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair, Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, Llc in Wichita, KS, has a cash median price of $3,523.00. This cash rate is notably lower than the gross chargemaster of $5,419.00, which is a common practice to attract self-pay patients. While the data does not provide a specific county or state average for this procedure, the facility's cash price is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like Humana ($2,940), Aetna ($3,000–$3,750), and UnitedHealthcare ($3,000–$3,630). For patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $3,523.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price. Patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce the final amount owed.
Regarding billing transparency, it is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract structures, sometimes reaching 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark. In this case, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $3,342.87, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. The facility's cash rate of $3,523.00 is only slightly above