CMS Price Transparency Data

Bunion correction surgery

Facility: UPMC Altoona

Billing Code: 28296 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$2,230

about 0.7× the $3,343 Medicare rate · typically $1,192–$3,168

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$3,207

Above the fair price

about $977 over the fair price · 1.0× Medicare

Medicare pays $3,343 Fair price $2,230 This hospital $3,207

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other PA hospitals

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

Cheapest $571 Priciest $3,207

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

A fair price for a Bunion correction surgery is about $2,230 (about 0.7× the $3,343 Medicare rate). UPMC Altoona charges insurers about $3,207 — above the fair price. Located in Altoona, PA.

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 $2,230. 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.

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

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Cigna AetnaHumanaKaiser 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	$3,310	99%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$837 - $3,341	25%
Cignamajor	$3,341	100%
AmeriHealth	$3,341	100%
UPMC Health Plan	$1,663 - $3,207	50%
+ 1 smaller / regional plan	$3,341

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, 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: 28296.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm UPMC Altoona is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 28296.
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 UPMC Altoona

Compare: Bunion correction surgery at other PA hospitals

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