Kenneth D. Palmer, MD

Kenneth D. Palmer, MD

Kenneth D. Palmer, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery
Accepting New Patients
No Video Visits Available

About Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer

"I treat conditions of the adult spine. Through utilization of the most advanced techniques in minimally invasive surgery of the spine as well as spinal injections, I provide the most appropriate yet most conservative treatment plan in addressing the spinal conditions of my patients."

Kenneth Palmer, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. He specializes in minimally invasive treatments for adult spine conditions, including arthritis, disc degeneration and herniation, spinal stenosis, and disc fusions. He also performs kyphoplasty, treats orthopedic trauma—including fragility fractures and osteoporosis-related injuries—and provides pain management such as spinal and epidural injections.

Dr. Palmer is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and is a member of the North American Spine Society. He earned his medical degree from Georgetown University, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York, and his spine surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Clinical Interests

  • Neck surgery
  • Spine fixation
  • Spine fusion
  • Spine surgery

Accepted Insurance Plans

  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIALS FROM UHC EP-1 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC EP-3 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC EP-2 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CareFlex FROM UHC TX-44 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CareFlex FROM UHC TX-45 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIAL FROM UHC TX-21 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIAL FROM UHC TX-22 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC TX-27 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC TX-28 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-35 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-38(HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-39 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-40 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-41 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-47 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-005
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-013
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-014
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-021
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-025
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-026
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-32 (PPO)** H1278-022
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-34 (PPO)** H1278-024
  • (WELLMED) SECURE HORIZON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0023 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) SECURE HORIZON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0025 (HMO-POS)**
  • Aetna Affordable Health Choices
  • Aetna APCN Plus Multi-Tier HM Tier 2
  • Aetna Choice POS / Open Choice
  • Aetna Common Spirit Minimum Value Plan
  • Aetna CommonSpirit Health KelseyCare
  • Aetna EPO
  • Aetna Health Network
  • Aetna HMO
  • Aetna International
  • Aetna Managed Choice / Elect Choice
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO
  • Aetna Medicare Dual Complete Plan (HMO D-SNP)
  • Aetna Medicare HMO Prime
  • Aetna Meritain Hlth/Aetna Premier Care (APCN)
  • Aetna Open Access
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • Aetna Premier Care Network
  • Aetna QPOS
  • Aetna Select
  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • Aetna Signature Administrators Allied Benefits
  • Aetna Signature Administrators CoreSource
  • Aetna Signature Administrators EBMS
  • Aetna Signature Administrators MODA
  • Aetna Student Health
  • Aetna Transplant
  • Aetna TX Pref Plus II Network
  • Aetna Workers' Comp
  • All Saver/United Healthcare
  • BCBS PPO GUIDESTONE
  • BCBS PPO Wespath
  • Best Doctors International
  • Bind Surest UHC
  • Blue Choice POS
  • Blue Choice PPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Federal Employee Plan
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Out of State
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage PPO/UT Care
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield POS
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
  • Blue Edge
  • Blue Essentials
  • Blue Essentials Access
  • CareWorks Workers' Comp
  • Cigna Allegiance Houston Methodist Employee Medical Plan
  • Cigna Allegiance OAP
  • Cigna Allegiance PPO
  • Cigna APWU
  • Cigna C-24 Network
  • Cigna Choice Fund
  • Cigna EPO
  • Cigna Global Health Benefits (International)
  • Cigna Great West
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna Indemnity
  • Cigna LocalPlus
  • Cigna NALC
  • Cigna Network
  • Cigna Network Open Access
  • Cigna Open Access
  • Cigna Open Access Plus (OAP)
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • Cigna Qualcare
  • Cigna Shared Administration OAP
  • Cigna Shared Administration PPO
  • Cigna SureFit
  • Community Health Choice Medicare Advantage HMO DSNP
  • Community Health Choice PREMIER Gold
  • Community Health Choice PREMIER Silver
  • Coventry PPO
  • DEVOTED CORE 001 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED CORE 019 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED C-SNP Plus 031 TX (HMO C-SNP)
  • DEVOTED C-SNP Premium 030 TX (HMO C-SNP)
  • DEVOTED DUAL 010 TX (HMO D-SNP)
  • DEVOTED DUAL FULL 040 (HMO D-SNP)
  • DEVOTED GIVEBACK 006 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED HEALTH DUAL PLUS GREATER HOUSTON
  • DEVOTED PREMIUM 002 (HMO)
  • Entrust/90 Degree EDI Payer ID# 36878
  • First Health PPO
  • GeoBlue
  • HAA Preferred Partners (International)
  • HealthSmart Accel PPO
  • HealthSmart Payors Organization
  • HealthSmart PPO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR HMO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR PPO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR Total Care Dual
  • HMO Blue
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus/Choice
  • Humana Medicare Advantage HMO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage PPO
  • Injury Management Organization
  • Kelsey Seybold Affiliate Network
  • Medica Choice with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus
  • Medicare
  • MEDICARE ADVANTAGE : TEXAN PLUS
  • Molina Marketplace Exchange
  • Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO (Dual) HIDE
  • Molina Medicare Complete Care Plus (HMO Dual-SNP) FIDE
  • MultiPlan PPO
  • OccMD
  • Occunet
  • Olympus Managed Care (International)
  • PHCS Healthy Directions
  • PHCS MEDI-SHARE
  • PHCS PPO
  • PHCS/Multiplan Practitioner & Ancillary Only
  • ProCare Medicare Advantage
  • Reny Company Workers' Comp
  • Sana Benefits
  • Sedgwick CMS
  • SouthWest Medical Provider Network
  • Student Assurance Services Student Accident Plan
  • Texas Kids First /Fidelity Security Student Accident Plan
  • Texas Monarch/Web TPA Student Accident Plan
  • Three Rivers Provider Network
  • TRS-ActiveCare 2 Group 385002
  • TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-South Texas Region Group 295430
  • TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-West Texas Region Group 295781
  • TRS-ActiveCare HD Group 385000
  • TRS-ActiveCare Primary Group 385003
  • TRS-ActiveCare Primary Plus Group 385001
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT A I Group 485002
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT A II Group 485003
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT B I Group 485005
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT B II Group 485006
  • TRS-Care Standard CMED Group 485001
  • TRS-Care Standard Group 485000
  • TX Annual Conf of UMC-UMR
  • UHC COMPLETE CARE SUPPORT TX-1A (REGIONAL PPO C-SNP)** R6801-008
  • UHC Complete Care TX-16 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-039
  • UHC Complete Care TX-17 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-040
  • UHC Complete Care TX-18 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-041
  • UHC Complete Care TX-19 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-042
  • UHC COMPLETE CARE TX-29 (REGIONAL PPO C-SNP)** R6801-009
  • UHC DUAL COMPLETE TX-S001 (REGIONAL PPO D-SNP)** R6801-011
  • UHC GR MA HALLIBURTON HMO 137 ** H0609-822-137
  • UHC GR MA LOCKHEED HMO 164 ** H0609-822-164
  • UHC GR MA RIO TINTO SERVICE
  • UHC GR MA TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM HMO 199** H0609-822-207
  • UHC GR MA VERIZON HMO 207** H0609-822-207
  • UHC MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0030 (REGIONAL PPO)** R6801-012
  • UMR
  • United Health Integrated Services
  • United HealthCare Community Plan Dual Complete (HMO SNP)
  • United Healthcare Nexus ACO RA or OA
  • United Healthcare Plan of the River Valley
  • UnitedHealthcare Choice
  • UnitedHealthcare ChoicePlus
  • UnitedHealthcare Core
  • UnitedHealthcare Core Plus
  • UnitedHealthcare EPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule
  • UnitedHealthcare HMO
  • UnitedHealthcare Navigate
  • UnitedHealthcare Navigate Plus
  • UnitedHealthcare Options PPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Oxford
  • UnitedHealthcare POS
  • UnitedHealthcare PPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Student Resources
  • UnitedHealthcare West
  • UnitedHealthOne
  • US Family Health Plan
  • WellMed AARP Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • WellMed AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1 & Plan 2
  • WellMed Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • WellMed Medicare Advantage Patriot
  • WellMed UHC Dual Complete HMO D-SNP
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Dual Complete Choice (Regional PPO D-SNP)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Advantage Choice (Regional PPO)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Gold (Regional PPO C-SNP)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Silver (Regional PPO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP)
  • WELLPOINT ESSENTIALS MARKETPLACE
  • Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Home Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Kidney Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Kidney Care (HMO-POS C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Lung Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Medicare Advantage 2 (HMO)
  • Wellpoint Select (HMO)
  • Workers' Comp: Corvel
  • Workers' Comp: Coventry / First Health
Insurance plans may change. Please verify your plan is accepted when scheduling an appointment.

Credentials

Board Certification
  • Orthopedic Surgery | American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery | 1998
Fellowship
  • Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas | 1995
Residency
  • St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, New York | 1994
Internship
  • St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, New York | 1990
Medical School
  • Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC | 1989
Affiliated Hospitals
  • Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
  • Houston Methodist Hospital

Languages

  • English
Languages listed are spoken by doctor and/or office staff.

FAQ

Can I book an appointment with Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer?
Yes. Please contact the physician's office directly at 936.321.8000 to schedule an appointment or call 713.790.3333 for assistance in finding another doctor.
What insurance does Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer accept?
See all insurance plans that Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer accepts.
What practice does Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer work at?
Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer works at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
Where is Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer office located?
How do patients rate Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer in reviews?
757 patients have reviewed Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.9/5. You can read individual reviews and ratings on Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer's profile.
What languages does Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer speak?
Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer, or the office, speaks English.
What are Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer's specialties?
Dr. Kenneth D. Palmer is a specialist in Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery.

Patient Ratings & Comments

What is a Patient Rating score?
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on our independently administered Patient Satisfaction Survey.
How are responses measured?
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score.
4.9 out of 5
(757 Ratings, 95 Comments)
  • 4.9
    Provider discussed treatment options
  • 4.9
    Provider showed concern
  • 4.9
    Provider explained things clearly
  • 4.9
    Provider included you in decisions
  • 4.9
    Likelihood of recommending this provider
Comments also are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
  • Sep 5, 2026
    Seemed like a whirlwind
  • Sep 4, 2026
    Dr. Palmer was so helpful and compassionate during my initial visit. He truly took the time to listen to what I had been experiencing with my back and hip and, most importantly, listened to the pain I was in and the things I could no longer do because of it.My husband even commented afterward that he felt hopeful that I was finally going to get the care I needed to get back to the person I once was. That meant so much to me.I am incredibly appreciative of the support and understanding Dr. Palmer showed me during my first visit. Sometimes, simply having a doctor genuinely listen and understand what you're going through can make all the difference. I left feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about moving forward.
  • Aug 14, 2026
    I go to Dr Palmer, because I trust him to do what Is best for me
  • Jul 23, 2026
    Dr. Palmer changed my life with the procedure he performed on me. I am so grateful to him and his expertise. His whole staff, both in surgery and in clinic were amazing.
  • Jul 10, 2026
    Dr. Palmer has been my physician for 10 years, delivering outstanding medical care. Recently, I underwent cervical spine fusion and lower back surgery. His dedication to patient care is evident in the exceptional service he provides. I wouldn't want to seek care from any other orthopedic spine doctor.
  • Jul 3, 2026
    Very good patient repore
  • Jul 2, 2026
    Doctor Palmer is great