How Much Does Knee Arthroscopy Cost? What You'll Actually Pay

A knee that catches, locks, or gives way after a twist or a fall — if a doctor has suggested knee arthroscopy, the next question is usually about cost. As with most orthopedic surgery, the price depends mostly on where it's done and how you're insured.

What knee arthroscopy is

Knee arthroscopy is a same-day procedure that uses a small camera and thin instruments through a few small punctures, rather than a large incision. It's often used to trim or repair a torn meniscus. You usually go home the same day. Whether surgery is right for you is a decision for you and your surgeon.

What the surgery actually costs

Your bill is made up of several parts:

• Surgeon fee. Around $700 on average in recent Medicare data, and often $1,500–$3,000 on commercial plans.
• Facility fee. The biggest variable. A surgery center is often roughly $1,200–$2,500, while a hospital can be two to three times that.
• Anesthesia. Around $200–$400 on Medicare and $800–$1,500 on commercial plans.
• Physical therapy. Often 6–12 sessions at $75–$200 each if prescribed.

What you pay, plan by plan

Medicare

Medicare Part B covers knee arthroscopy as medically necessary outpatient surgery. After you meet your yearly Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount — for many people roughly $400–$600. A Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan often covers most of that share.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans generally cover the procedure too, often picking up most of the coinsurance. The exact copay varies by plan, so check your plan's summary of benefits.

Commercial and employer plans

The surgery may be billed at $6,000–$12,000, but your insurer's negotiated in-network rate is usually far lower. What you actually pay depends on your deductible and coinsurance: a typical in-network patient responsibility is $1,500–$4,500. The exact amount is set by your plan.

No insurance (cash pay)

Paying out of pocket? A bundled cash price at a surgery center often runs $3,500–$7,500. Ask for a written, all-in quote before you book.

How to pay less

• Compare a freestanding surgery center with a hospital — the surgery center is usually 30–50% less.
• Get a written Good Faith Estimate from the surgeon and the facility.
• Confirm the surgeon, facility, anesthesia, and any lab are all in your network.
• Ask for a bundled cash price that covers everything, not itemized billing.

If your knee injury happened at work or in sports

A torn meniscus is one of the most common knee injuries, often from a twist while playing sports. If yours happened on the job, ask your employer whether workers' compensation might apply. See how work injury coverage works.

Remember, these are national averages. Your actual cost is set by your plan and your specific doctor — different doctors negotiate different rates with the same insurer, and in-network care costs far less than out-of-network care.

Check what your insurance covers. Tell us your plan and ZIP code, and a clinic near you will check your benefits before you book — so you know your cost ahead of time.

Sources

• Medicare.gov: Coverage
• CMS Medicare provider and payment data
• FAIR Health consumer cost lookup