Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $3,241
- Cash Discount Price: $7,051
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.97x 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 | $3,241 - $9,999 | 97% |
| Dean Health Plan | $3,241 | 97% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $3,241 | 97% |
| Healthpartners | $3,241 | 97% |
| Humana | $3,241 | 97% |
| Medica | $3,241 | 97% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $3,241 | 97% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $3,241 - $5,205 | 97% |
| Ucare Wi | $3,241 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $3,241 | 97% |
| Alliance | $4,861 | 145% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI, the most significant pricing benchmark is the Medicare rate of $3,342.87, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. The facility's cash median price of $7,051 is notably higher than the Medicare amount, while the negotiated rate for in-network insurance plans is $3,241, which aligns closely with the federal benchmark. This data highlights that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the cash price here is lower than the negotiated rate paid by most commercial payers.
To further reduce potential costs, patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can provide immediate liquidity incentives that bypass costly claims processing. It is also important to understand that while the facility's gross charge is $7,834, the actual amount billed to an in-network member is capped at the negotiated rate of $3,241, preventing balance billing for this specific procedure under the No Surprises Act. Consumers are advised to request a full itemized billing audit before finalizing any payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice.