Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Children'S Mercy South
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $1,019
- Cash Discount Price: $776
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.30x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $519 - $1,027 | 16% |
| Healthy Blue | $554 - $768 | 17% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $559 | 17% |
| Wppa Providrs Care | $634 | 19% |
| Healthlink | $662 | 20% |
| Health Midwest Comprehensive Care | $723 | 22% |
| Home State Health | $768 | 23% |
| American Healthcare Alliance | $776 | 23% |
| Quiktrip | $819 | 24% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $834 - $1,079 | 25% |
| Medica | $942 | 28% |
| Wellfit/Centrus | $1,000 | 30% |
| Humana | $1,000 | 30% |
| Orscheln | $1,011 | 30% |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | $1,020 | 31% |
| Centivo | $1,030 | 31% |
| Aetna | $1,045 - $1,249 | 31% |
| Multiplan | $1,091 | 33% |
| Mercy Health | $1,180 | 35% |
| Coxhealth Network | $1,196 | 36% |
| Cigna | $1,262 | 38% |
| Coventry Health Care Of Kansas | $1,321 | 40% |
| National Preferred Provider Network | $1,422 | 43% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash price of $776.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $1,616.00. While the facility's negotiated rates range from $519 to $1,422 depending on the insurance carrier, the cash price remains the most transparent baseline for comparison. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates paid by insurers often exceed the cash rate. Additionally, patients should verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost against federal standards, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $3,342.87, which serves as a critical benchmark for understanding the facility's pricing structure. The facility's cash rate of $776.00 represents approximately 23% of the Medicare amount, indicating a substantial discount relative to the federal baseline. While the data does not provide specific state or county average figures for this procedure, the disparity between the gross charge and the cash price highlights the importance of requesting an itemized bill before payment. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills that obscure individual line items, as these often hide unbundled codes or services not rendered. To ensure accuracy and avoid unexpected costs, consumers are encouraged to request a detailed CPT-coded statement and dispute any errors formally in writing rather than relying on verbal assurances.