Cataract surgery with lens implant
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 66984 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 66984
- Insurance Median: $3,822
- Cash Discount Price: $3,116
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.62x 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 $2,357.81 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $3,531 | 150% |
| Aetna | $3,739 | 159% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $3,739 | 159% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $3,822 | 162% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $3,946 | 167% |
| Cigna | $3,946 | 167% |
| First Health-All Plans | $3,946 | 167% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For Cataract surgery with lens implant at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the cash price of $3,116 is lower than the state average of $3,739, making it a potentially cost-effective option for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna range from $3,822 to $3,946, these amounts exceed the cash price, illustrating that commercial insurance contracts can sometimes result in higher costs than paying directly. Because the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should proactively ask about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the total cost compared to standard billing cycles.
This procedure carries a Medicare benchmark of $2,357.81, which serves as a reliable baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The gross charge of $4,154 is significantly higher than the Medicare rate, reflecting the typical administrative and contractual structures that inflate commercial chargemasters. To avoid unexpected balance billing, patients should ensure they are aware of the No Surprises Act protections, which ban surprise bills for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, and should request a full itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the detailed line items is essential to confirm that the final amount aligns with the negotiated or cash rates provided.