Bunion correction surgery
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 28296 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 28296
- Insurance Median: $3,006
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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 | $147 - $14,105 | 4% |
| Cigna | $839 - $2,873 | 25% |
| Aetna | $2,873 - $4,764 | 86% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2,873 - $4,740 | 86% |
| Medicare (plans) | $2,901 - $3,160 | 87% |
| Humana | $2,930 - $5,150 | 88% |
| Healthy Blue | $3,083 | 92% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $3,648 | 109% |
| Home State Health | $4,216 | 126% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For patients paying out-of-pocket, it is important to know that cash-pay rates can sometimes be lower than what insurance companies negotiate, particularly for those with high-deductible plans. While Liberty Hospital does not publish a specific cash median rate in their transparency data, the facility's median negotiated rate for Bunion correction surgery is $3,006. Patients should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can bypass the administrative costs associated with insurance billing cycles.
In the broader context of this procedure, the facility's pricing aligns closely with federal benchmarks. The median negotiated rate of $3,006 is approximately 90% of the Medicare amount of $3,342.87, indicating a relatively fair pricing structure compared to the national baseline. While the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this procedure, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include significant administrative markups. Regardless of the payer, consumers are encouraged to request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through formal written disputes.