CMS Price Transparency Data

Inguinal hernia repair

Facility: Barnes Jewish Hospital

Billing Code: 49505 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price medium confidence

A fair price for this

$3,291

about 0.9× the $3,658 Medicare rate · typically $2,445–$8,301

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$8,138

Well above the fair price

about $4,847 over the fair price · 2.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $3,658 Fair price $3,291 This hospital $8,138 Cash price $20,803 Hospital's list price $34,672

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other MO hospitals

Highest price of the 9 MO hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $385 Priciest $8,138

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 MO hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a Inguinal hernia repair is about $3,291 (about 0.9× the $3,658 Medicare rate). Barnes Jewish Hospital charges insurers about $8,138, or about $20,803 in cash — well above the fair price. Located in Saint Louis, MO.

This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less

Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $3,291. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

5 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna✓ Humana Kaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$6,081 - $9,946	166%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$6,081 - $10,311	166%
Aetnamajor	$6,081 - $15,154	166%
Cignamajor	$7,184 - $11,562	196%
Humanamajor	$6,081 - $8,188	166%
Devoted Health	$6,385	175%
Medica	$6,385	175%
Priority Health	$11,562	316%
+ 11 smaller / regional plans	$5,018 - $15,154

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price (about 20,803), before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 49505.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Barnes Jewish Hospital is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 49505.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Barnes Jewish Hospital

Compare: Inguinal hernia repair at other MO hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.