go back

Pollicization: Making a Thumb From a Finger

Maryland rates for HCPCS 26550

Surgery that moves one of the fingers, along with its tendons, nerves and blood vessels, into the position and angle of a thumb. It gives a working, opposable thumb to someone born without one or who has lost one, so the hand can pinch and grip.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Pollicization: Making a Thumb From a Finger cost?

$1,660

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,660 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $1,549 to $1,820.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,738 · 10th to 90th $468 to $3,467Professionalmedian $1,660 · 10th to 90th $1,413 to $2,455
$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,738professional $1,660

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$1,737.80
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$1,819.70
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,019.95
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$3,019.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,890.45
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$3,548.13
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,511.89
6 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$870.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,318.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,230.27

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 7.8 times more in Alaska than in Texas. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Maryland· 42nd of 51

$1,660

AK $6,761TX $871

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.