Total knee replacement
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 27447 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 27447
- Insurance Median: $1,442
- Cash Discount Price: $2,767
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.11x 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 $13,116.76 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 | $1,056 - $1,415 | 8% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $1,056 | 8% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $1,056 | 8% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,056 - $1,442 | 8% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $1,056 | 8% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $1,267 | 10% |
| Cigna | $1,470 | 11% |
| Aetna | $1,490 | 11% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $1,661 | 13% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,661 | 13% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $1,689 | 13% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $2,006 | 15% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $2,488 | 19% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Total knee replacement procedure (CPT 27447) at Amberwell Atchison Association in Atchison, KS, the cash price is $2,767.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This cash rate is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by insurance carriers, with the median negotiated amount across 13 payers being $1,442.00. While commercial insurance contracts cap charges at amounts ranging from $1,056 to $2,488 depending on the plan, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their out-of-pocket costs exceed the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $13,116.76, suggesting that the cash rate represents a substantial discount relative to the federal government's cost-based reimbursement.
Patients should be aware that prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50%, are often available for upfront payment but must be requested before scheduling or check-in to avoid automatic claims submission. Since the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, consumers should verify self-pay or prompt-pay rates directly with the hospital administration rather than assuming the insurance negotiated rate is the lowest possible cost. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through written dispute.