Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $3,932
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.18x 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 | $391 - $14,105 | 12% |
| Cigna | $1,033 - $2,873 | 31% |
| Aetna | $2,873 - $6,007 | 86% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2,873 - $4,740 | 86% |
| Medicare (plans) | $2,901 - $3,160 | 87% |
| Humana | $2,930 - $7,165 | 88% |
| Healthy Blue | $3,083 | 92% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $3,648 | 109% |
| Home State Health | $4,216 | 126% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri, the commercial negotiated rate of $3,932 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $3,342.87, reflecting a markup ratio of 1.2 times the federal baseline. While Liberty Hospital is a voluntary non-profit acute care facility with a 2-star rating, the data indicates no available cash or median negotiated payment figures for this specific service, meaning patients should verify their actual out-of-pocket costs directly with the billing department before scheduling.
Insurance plans from major carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Humana have negotiated ranges between $391 and $14,105 for this procedure, with most plans falling between $2,873 and $7,165. Given that prompt-pay discounts can reduce bills by 20% to 50% for upfront payments and that cash prices may sometimes be lower than insurance negotiated rates, it is advisable to explicitly request self-pay or prompt-pay pricing before check-in and avoid automatic claims submission to prevent balance billing. Consumers should also demand a full itemized CPT-coded bill to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring the final charge aligns with the negotiated or cash rates provided.