Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Minneola District Hospital
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $4,916
- Cash Discount Price: $3,823
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.47x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $3,595 | 108% |
| Humana | $3,660 | 109% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $3,660 - $5,462 | 109% |
| Va Community Care Program-All Plans | $3,660 | 109% |
| Providrs Care Network-All Plans | $4,643 | 139% |
| Corporate Plan Management-All Plans | $4,643 | 139% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $4,916 | 147% |
| Preferred Health Care (Coventry)-All Other Plans | $4,916 | 147% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $5,189 | 155% |
| Aetna | $5,189 - $5,462 | 155% |
| Phc (Coventry) Leased Network | $5,189 | 155% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $5,462 | 163% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 29881, representing a knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair, Minneola District Hospital lists a gross charge of $5,462. While the facility's cash median rate is $3,823, commercial insurance negotiated rates vary significantly across payers, ranging from a low of $3,595 with Blue Cross Blue Shield to a high of $5,462 with Aetna. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $3,823 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the insurance negotiated rate of $4,916, especially if the patient has not yet met their deductible. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost against the Medicare benchmark of $3,342.87, the facility's cash rate represents a markup of 1.5 times the Medicare amount, which aligns with the typical range of fair pricing found in the healthcare system. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average figures for this procedure, the facility operates as a Critical Access Hospital in Minneola, KS, and is owned by a Government Hospital District. To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, we recommend requesting a full itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Always confirm that your specific procedure is covered under your plan and