Methodology & sources

Medicare-anchored estimates

Medicare rate = [(work RVU × work GPCI) + (practice-expense RVU × PE GPCI) + (malpractice RVU × MP GPCI)] × conversion factor ($33.4009 for 2026, non-qualifying APM). Office/imaging-center services use non-facility values; procedures at surgery centers use facility values plus the national Medicare ASC payment rate (October 2026), which we do not adjust for local wages. Commercial estimate = Medicare × 1.84 for clinician fees and × 1.71 for surgery-center facility fees: the averages RAND measured for 2022 (Round 5.1). Real commercial prices vary widely between plans and providers; some states average far higher. Source: CMS PFS RVU26D (Oct 2026, updated 08/26/2026); ASC Addendum AA Oct 2026 (updated 10/13/2026).

Published-range estimates

For services Medicare does not cover or price (most dental, LASIK, hearing aids, fertility, cosmetic), we use published ranges, each cited with the publisher and date checked. “Typical” is a published average or median where one exists, otherwise the midpoint of the cited range, and the page says which. Provider-published figures (e.g. a chain’s own internal data) are labelled as such.

Coverage, HSA and financing

Health plan: your share = min(OOP max remaining, min(cost, deductible) + coinsurance × remainder). Dental plan: plan pays min(maximum remaining, plan % × (cost − deductible)). HSA/FSA saving = your share × marginal tax rate. Monthly payment uses standard amortization.

Indexing rule

A page is indexed only if its price basis is CMS fee-schedule data, or it cites at least two independent published price sources. Otherwise it is published with noindex until more sources are added. Pages currently noindexed: Braces (only 1 independent price source), Root canal (only 1 independent price source), Dental crowns (only 1 independent price source), Wisdom teeth removal (only 1 independent price source), Hearing aids (only 1 independent price source), IVF (only 1 independent price source), Egg freezing (only 1 independent price source), Tummy tuck (only 1 independent price source).

What we deliberately do not use

• CPT code descriptions (copyright of the American Medical Association): we name procedures in plain English and use codes only internally to look up CMS values.
• ADA/CDT dental fee surveys and FAIR Health benchmarks: licensed data.
• Hospital price-transparency files: not used yet; scale and per-hospital terms need review.

Update schedule

CMS releases physician fee schedule files quarterly and annually; ASC rates quarterly. We rebuild after each release and recheck every published range at least every six months. Last checked 2026-10-23.

All sources

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule relative value files RVU26D (October 2026 release) and GPCIs, CMS, Updated 2026-08-26. Accessed 2026-10-23.
2. ASC Approved HCPCS Code and Payment Rates, October 2026 (Addendum AA), CMS, Updated 2026-10-13. Accessed 2026-10-23.
3. PFS payment formula documentation, CMS. Accessed 2026-10-23.
4. Prices Paid to Hospitals by Private Health Plans, Round 5.1 (2022 data), RAND Corporation, 2024. Accessed 2026-10-23.
5. Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, IRS, 2025 edition. Accessed 2026-10-23.
6. Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (2026 HSA limits), IRS, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-23.
7. IRS 2026 inflation adjustments (health FSA limit), IRS, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-23.
8. Dental implants cost and insurance, Delta Dental. Accessed 2026-10-23.
9. How much do dental implants cost?, MetLife. Accessed 2026-10-23.
10. A comparative analysis of dental implant costs across major US markets, Dental Economics, 2025 data. Accessed 2026-10-23.
11. How much do dental implants cost in 2026? (provider internal data), ClearChoice, 2025 internal data. Accessed 2026-10-23.
12. LASIK eye surgery cost in 2026, All About Vision, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-23.
13. How much does LASIK eye surgery cost?, ValuePenguin. Accessed 2026-10-23.
14. How much does LASIK cost in 2026?, LASIK.com, Updated 2026-10-21. Accessed 2026-10-23.
15. Braces (plan information sheet), Delta Dental. Accessed 2026-10-23.
16. Root canal cost, Delta Dental. Accessed 2026-10-23.
17. Dental crown costs and insurance, Delta Dental. Accessed 2026-10-23.
18. How much does wisdom teeth removal cost, Delta Dental. Accessed 2026-10-23.
19. How much do hearing aids cost in 2026? (purchaser survey), HearingTracker, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-23.
20. The cost of IVF by city, FertilityIQ. Accessed 2026-10-23.
21. The costs of egg freezing, FertilityIQ. Accessed 2026-10-23.
22. 2024 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report (surgeon/physician fees only), American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2024. Accessed 2026-10-23.
23. How much do braces cost?, American Association of Orthodontists. Accessed 2026-10-23.
24. No Surprises Act: Good Faith Estimates for uninsured/self-pay patients, CMS. Accessed 2026-10-23.
25. Colorectal cancer screening recommendation, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2021. Accessed 2026-10-23.