Cost of a Hernia Repair Visit
in Iowa
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Iowa's rural healthcare infrastructure creates unique cost dynamics for surgical procedures, with negotiated rates for Hernia Repair ranging from $457 to $2,449 across the state's 317 active providers. The median cost sits at $1,131, reflecting Iowa's position roughly 9% below national averages due to lower overhead costs in smaller markets and strong insurer competition from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients can browse all Hernia Repair providers across Iowa to find the most affordable option in their area.
Average
$1,346
Median
$1,131
Lowest
$457
Highest
$2,449
Providers
317
60% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does inguinal hernia repair compare to related procedures in Iowa?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $95 | $2,935 | $4,753 | 309 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $91 | $2,938 | $3,950 | 320 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $1,186 | $1,313 | 296 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $452 | $1,174 | $1,680 | 311 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $90 | $1,428 | $3,082 | 337 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $85 | $1,304 | $2,810 | 369 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,912 | $3,576 | 341 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $549 | $1,426 | $1,627 | 255 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $95 | $640 | $705 | 270 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $1,392 | $3,021 | 333 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $361 | $933 | $1,068 | 260 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 49505 — Repair initial inguinal hernia, age 5 or older). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 49505 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 49505 (Repair initial inguinal hernia, age 5 or older), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 49505 covers: the provider's professional fee for inguinal hernia repair. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Iowa
These hospitals in Iowa are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
ORANGE CITY, IA
BELMOND, IA
CLARION, IA
MARENGO, IA
ALGONA, IA
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Hernia Repair Visit Costs Vary Across Iowa
Iowa's healthcare costs run approximately 9% below national averages, driven by lower overhead expenses in smaller markets and strong competition between Wellmark BCBS and national insurers. The state's agricultural economy and lower cost of living translate into more affordable surgical care compared to coastal regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Des Moines and Cedar Rapids concentrate most of Iowa's surgical specialists, while rural counties often rely on traveling surgeons or require patients to drive significant distances for specialized care. This geographic disparity creates cost variations, with urban hospital systems typically charging premium rates while rural providers offer more modest pricing.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
UnityPoint Health and Mercy Health dominate Iowa's hospital market, with their employed surgeons often charging higher facility fees than independent practitioners. Ambulatory surgery centers, particularly prevalent around Des Moines, typically offer lower-cost alternatives to hospital-based consultations.
Insurance Market Competition in Iowa
Wellmark BCBS maintains strong market dominance across rural Iowa, while UHC and Aetna compete primarily in metropolitan areas, creating varied negotiated rate structures. This concentrated but competitive market helps keep surgical consultation costs reasonable compared to states with true insurer monopolies.
Physician Supply and Demand in Iowa
With 317 active Hernia Repair providers statewide, Iowa maintains adequate surgical capacity relative to its 3.2 million residents, though distribution heavily favors urban areas. This reasonable supply-to-demand ratio helps moderate pricing and reduces wait times compared to surgeon-shortage states.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Hernia Repair Costs in Iowa
What is the average cost of a Hernia Repair visit in Iowa without insurance?
Does Iowa Medicaid cover Hernia Repair visits?
How do I find an affordable Hernia Repair near me in Iowa?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Hernia Repair visit in Iowa?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Hernia Repair in Iowa?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 49505)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $4,031 | $1,784 |
| 2 | Iowa Range: $457 – $2,449 | $1,346 |
| 3 | Alaska Range: $440 – $2,338 | $1,154 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Range: $397 – $2,168 | $1,133 |
| 5 | Montana Range: $378 – $2,328 | $1,120 |
| 6 | Georgia Range: $421 – $1,969 | $1,097 |
| 7 | South Dakota Range: $439 – $2,034 | $1,081 |
| 8 | Wyoming Range: $628 – $1,642 | $1,050 |
| 9 | New Hampshire Range: $504 – $1,521 | $1,002 |
| 10 | Nebraska Range: $637 – $1,214 | $994 |
| 11 | Washington Range: $592 – $1,594 | $984 |
| 12 | Minnesota Range: $344 – $1,787 | $970 |
| 13 | Rhode Island Range: $440 – $1,521 | $940 |
| 14 | North Dakota Range: $437 – $1,537 | $894 |
| 15 | Maine Range: $630 – $1,022 | $883 |
| 16 | Utah Range: $374 – $1,150 | $883 |
| 17 | California Range: $423 – $1,216 | $871 |
| 18 | Oregon Range: $440 – $1,399 | $866 |
| 19 | North Carolina Range: $426 – $1,453 | $859 |
| 20 | District of Columbia Range: $381 – $1,221 | $834 |
| 21 | Connecticut Range: $368 – $1,435 | $824 |
| 22 | New Mexico Range: $465 – $1,226 | $821 |
| 23 | West Virginia Range: $381 – $1,378 | $806 |
| 24 | Missouri Range: $493 – $1,027 | $804 |
| 25 | Colorado Range: $441 – $1,242 | $798 |
| 26 | Michigan Range: $440 – $1,216 | $797 |
| 27 | Delaware Range: $330 – $1,435 | $789 |
| 28 | Illinois Range: $90 – $1,569 | $789 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania Range: $333 – $1,448 | $781 |
| 30 | Idaho Range: $438 – $1,197 | $775 |
| 31 | Hawaii Range: $426 – $1,149 | $769 |
| 32 | New York Range: $364 – $1,435 | $768 |
| 33 | Kentucky Range: $396 – $1,220 | $763 |
| 34 | Vermont Range: $391 – $1,271 | $753 |
| 35 | Arkansas Range: $461 – $1,043 | $746 |
| 36 | New Jersey Range: $309 – $1,435 | $740 |
| 37 | Indiana Range: $90 – $1,448 | $722 |
| 38 | Mississippi Range: $409 – $1,251 | $718 |
| 39 | Tennessee Range: $440 – $1,016 | $705 |
| 40 | South Carolina Range: $391 – $1,170 | $705 |
| 41 | Texas Range: $407 – $1,086 | $699 |
| 42 | Alabama Range: $356 – $1,111 | $688 |
| 43 | Louisiana Range: $383 – $1,052 | $681 |
| 44 | Kansas Range: $493 – $872 | $667 |
| 45 | Virginia Range: $358 – $1,079 | $664 |
| 46 | Maryland Range: $381 – $1,079 | $653 |
| 47 | Oklahoma Range: $429 – $991 | $647 |
| 48 | Ohio Range: $328 – $1,039 | $638 |
| 49 | Nevada Range: $423 – $859 | $596 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $432 – $882 | $585 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $920 | $337 |