CMS Price Transparency Data

Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair

Facility: Trident Medical Center

Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$4,087

about 1.2× the $3,343 Medicare rate · typically $3,193–$5,840

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$5,117

Above the fair price

about $1,030 over the fair price · 1.5× Medicare

Medicare pays $3,343 Fair price $4,087 This hospital $5,117

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other SC hospitals

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

Cheapest $671 Priciest $5,117

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

A fair price for a Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair is about $4,087 (about 1.2× the $3,343 Medicare rate). Trident Medical Center charges insurers about $5,117 — above the fair price. Located in Charleston, SC.

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 $4,087. 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✓ Aetna CignaHumanaKaiser 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	$1,966 - $11,850	59%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$4,337 - $8,560	130%
Aetnamajor	$10,292 - $24,936	308%
Molina	$5,284	158%
SelectHealth	$6,077	182%
+ 6 smaller / regional plans	$1,966 - $5,827

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: 29881.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Trident Medical Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 29881.
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 Trident Medical Center

Compare: Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at other SC hospitals

Cannon Memorial Hospital · Pickens $671
Anmed Health · Anderson $671
Conway Medical Center · Conway $763
Aiken Regional Medical Center · Aiken $1,586
Piedmont Medical Center · Rock Hill $2,918
MUSC Medical Center · Charleston $3,104
Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center · Hilton Head Island $3,165
East Cooper Medical Center · Mount Pleasant $3,165

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