Knee Replacement Surgery Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

A knee replacement bill is made of several pieces: the surgeon, the facility, and anesthesia, plus separate charges such as implants, imaging, and rehabilitation. Which piece is largest depends on where the surgery happens and how the bill is written.

This page uses cash-price data from Sidecar Health and Medicare estimates reported by GoodRx. Cash prices are what a patient without coverage for the service might be quoted. Medicare figures show what the program is estimated to pay and what the patient owes. Treat both as reference points, since a provider's quote can differ. Data was checked on Oct 12, 2026.

Sidecar Health's average cash price runs from $13,734 at a surgery center to $18,096 at an outpatient hospital.

The gap between the two settings comes mostly from the facility charge, as the fee breakdown below shows. The sources do not say how an inpatient stay would compare, so ask your surgeon and the facility which setting applies to you and how it is billed.

Sidecar Health splits the cash price into components.

The surgeon's fee is a small slice. The facility fee is the largest part, and it is the main reason one location costs more than another. Anesthesia is billed by time. These components do not include everything you may be charged, so ask whether implants, imaging, lab work, physical therapy, and follow-up visits are in the quote.

GoodRx reports Medicare estimates for a knee replacement done at an ambulatory surgery center.

The patient's share in this estimate is the 20 percent coinsurance that Medicare Part B generally leaves to the patient. A supplemental policy, a Medicare Advantage plan, or other coverage may change what you owe. For details on your plan, contact Medicare or your plan administrator.

The cash price and the Medicare estimate are not the same kind of number, so comparing them directly can mislead.

• Cash prices reflect what a provider charges a patient paying directly.
• Medicare estimates reflect the rates the program sets, with the patient responsible for coinsurance.
• Private insurance uses negotiated rates that differ by insurer and network.
• A bill may or may not include implants, imaging, lab tests, or therapy.

Because of these differences, the best way to learn your cost is to request an itemized estimate from the surgeon's office and the facility, and to ask your insurer what it would pay.

• Facility type. The facility fee varies a great deal between a surgery center and an outpatient hospital.
• Surgeon and anesthesia fees. These vary by provider and by how long the procedure takes.
• Insurance and network status. Deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-network charges change what you pay.
• Implants and supplies. These may be bundled into the facility fee or billed separately.
• Rehabilitation. Physical therapy after surgery is commonly billed on its own.
• Location. Prices vary by region and by provider.

Which approach to surgery is appropriate for you is a decision for an orthopedic surgeon.

• Ask for the price at more than one facility. The fee table shows how much the facility charge can swing the total.
• Confirm that the surgeon, facility, and anesthesia provider are all in your network.
• Ask for an itemized estimate before scheduling, and ask about a self-pay or bundled price if you pay cash.
• Check how your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum apply.
• Ask about payment plans and financial assistance programs.
• Review the bill and your explanation of benefits for errors.

• What is the total price, and which services does it include?
• Is the facility fee separate from the surgeon's fee?
• Are implants and imaging included?
• How are physical therapy and follow-up visits billed?
• If something changes on the day of surgery, how does the price change?
• Is a deposit required?