Inguinal hernia repair
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 49505 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 49505
- Insurance Median: $3,682
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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 $3,657.95 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 | $87 - $15,076 | 2% |
| Cigna | $1,033 - $3,070 | 28% |
| Aetna | $3,070 - $6,007 | 84% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $3,070 - $5,066 | 84% |
| Medicare (plans) | $3,101 - $3,378 | 85% |
| Humana | $3,132 - $7,165 | 86% |
| Healthy Blue | $3,295 | 90% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $3,900 | 107% |
| Home State Health | $4,506 | 123% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For an inguinal hernia repair at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO, the median negotiated rate is $3,682, which is lower than the state average of $3,657.95 and the county average of $3,657.95. While this facility is a Voluntary non-profit - Private Acute Care Hospital with a rating of 2, patients should note that the cash price is not listed in the data. However, for individuals with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overheads. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if settled within a short window.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance carriers pay negotiated rates based on bulk contracts, which can sometimes be higher than the true cost of care represented by Medicare benchmarks. For this specific procedure, the Medicare amount is $3,657.95, serving as a reliable baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing. If a patient chooses to use an in-network plan, they must ensure they have met their deductible to avoid paying the full negotiated rate out of pocket. Furthermore, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider, they may face balance billing for the difference between the provider's chargemaster rate and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against this for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities.