How Much Does Knee Surgery Cost
In the United States, the average cost of a total knee replacement ranges from $45,000 to $70,000. In essence, there is no such thing as fixed cost knowing that the expenses may depend on several factors. It is also important to take note that the total expenses account for more than just the operation itself. Knowing the extent of the knee damage and the patient’s medical history will give people a clear yet broad answer when asking “how much does knee surgery cost?”
A total knee replacement is not entirely the immediate recommended medical procedure for all people with knee injuries. For milder cases of knee trauma, an examining orthopedic physician may recommend partial knee replacement. In this case, the knee replacement price itself plus the other necessary charges are 10 percent to 20 percent less than the cost of a total knee replacement.
Additional Expenses For Knee Surgery
The first thing to consider is the total number of days spent in the hospital. The length of stay will depend on the kind of knee surgery needed by the patient.
Another important factor to consider when counting the cost of the knee operation is the type of implant or the surgical approach of the assigned orthopedic surgeon. Inclusive in this portion are the implants, the specialized computer technology used during operation and any customized surgical instruments.
Pre-existing conditions are usually included in the bill for patients who suffer from other systemic complications other than simple knee trauma or osteoarthritis. For instance, patients diagnosed with bone cancer, hypertension or diabetes during a comprehensive lab analysis would require extra specialized care.
Another potential cost to cover will include post-operative complications. A patient may experience problems that could entail additional equipment or other necessary measures categorized under “unanticipated care.”
Lastly, the length of time spent in the operating room is a separate expense from the length of stay in the hospital during the recovery and therapy period.
Saving Costs Through Insurance
The cost of total knee replacement price is not always the exact cost paid by patients. In other words, discounts are available if one knows how to obtain them. One of the best recommendations for reducing the staggering cost of total knee replacement price is through health insurances.
There are two options a patient can choose from. The most highly recommended option is availing the government-sponsored insurance called Medicare. Another option is via a private insurance company. In any case, both options allow its beneficiaries to pay only a partial cost instead of the entire total cost.
Again, the exact coverage of the insurance will also depend on the kind of payment plan that the patient availed. Hence, there is no exact cost that fits all since one has to account for the specific payment plan, the kind of surgical procedure, as well as the kind of overall healthcare required after the knee surgery.
It is also important to consider that each hospital may have varying costs for their knee surgery. Cost variations are also steep when comparing different states. Case in point: in Dallas (Texas), knee surgery has a wide average gap that ranges from $16,722 to $61,585 without the medical insurance accounting for it.
The best course of action is for the patient to review their insurance plans with their provider – including copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. In most cases, the average total cost of a knee surgery for those with health insurance ranges from $3,000 to $4,500.
Savings Through Discounts and Health Plans
For those patients who are not beneficiaries of government or private medical insurance can always avail of discount offers provided by the hospital itself. But for patients who are already struggling to completely understand the overall details of their insurance coverage plans would find it more difficult to know a better deal without it.
Again, discounts may vary for each hospital and in most cases, acquiring accurate information is practically inconvenient (if not impossible). However, there are private firms that broker data for uninsured patients. One of the best companies known for this is HealthGrades.
HealthGrades sells an updated report for only $7.95. This includes information on how much exactly the patient would pay for his or her knee replacement procedure – a useful comprehensive data accompanied by an acquired health plan. Through the health plans, discounts for an average total cost for knee replacements can be negotiated down to roughly $18,300.
Saving Expense Via Overseas Medical Treatment
Sometimes, the steep costs and the complications of figuring out the best deal to save money from medical expenses are too taxing and difficult in the United States. Some patients would rather take their healthcare elsewhere. Fortunately, there are some countries that offer quality knee replacement procedures and health care values that are generally on par with the US standards.
The most important thing to remember when opting for comparatively affordable knee procedure overseas is to find out if the medical center passes global accreditation. Hence, the medical facility providing knee surgeries should be internationally accredited by the Joint Commission International. A hospital must also have a high-level ISO certification in order to guarantee that the patient will be in good hands.
So how much does knee surgery cost overseas?
In Singapore, the average total cost for a knee replacement (including other medical fees) ranges from $18,000 to $22,500. In Thailand, a patient may incur a total average cost of $12,000 to $14,200. In India, the cheapest cost for a knee surgery is $7,000 while its premium costs $11,200.
But should one look for exceptional standards at the lowest possible cost, the best country to visit for knee surgery is Taiwan. In Taiwan, the average total cost for knee surgery is somewhere between $9,000 and $10,000. It has the lowest cost in terms of the highest health care premium compared to other JCI or ISO accredited countries mentioned earlier.
