It’s not always easy to decide whether you should get a hip replacement, especially when the cost of surgery can vary so widely from person to person. Understanding what can affect your “out-of-pocket” price for your hip surgery can help you decide whether the procedure is your best option for long-term pain relief.
What is hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, is a potential treatment option when hip pain and immobility keep you from enjoying everyday life. During this procedure, a surgeon removes the damaged bone near the hip joint. Then, they replace it with a prosthesis made of metal and medical-grade plastic. Patients can typically return to their normal activity levels around six weeks after their hip replacement, but it can take six to twelve months to regain full hip strength and mobility.
How much does hip replacement surgery cost?
The average cost of hip replacement surgery in the United States is $39,880, but prices can range from $18,175 to $53,750.
The biggest factor that affects what you pay for your hip replacement is where you have the procedure. Inpatient facilities, like a hospitals, typically charge more than outpatient surgery centers. Most hip replacement surgeries are inpatient with a hospital stay of one to three days, but an increasing number of outpatient centers now offer hip replacement surgeries for otherwise healthy patients.
Outpatient centers are just as safe as hospitals and could save you thousands on your medical bill.
Based on our data, the target fair price for a hip replacement in the United States is $26,710, whether you have health insurance or not.
- National Average: $39,880
- National Range: $18,175 – $53,750+
- Outpatient Facility Average: $27,220
- Inpatient Facility Average: $43,370
- Target Fair Price: $26,710
Read on for a breakdown of other factors that can affect the cost of your hip replacement surgery, as well as what you can do to find a fair price for your procedure.
Hip Replacement Surgery Cost Averages Around the United States
Which factors affect how much a hip replacement costs?
No matter which surgery you get, these three factors will influence how much you end up paying for healthcare:
- Facility setting — Having your hip replacement surgery done in a hospital as an inpatient costs far more than having the same procedure done in an outpatient center. Since inpatient facilities tend to cost more to run, patients end up paying more for care.
- Insured or uninsured — The cost of hip replacement surgery can vary between insurance providers, depending on how much of the procedure (if any) your insurance plan covers. If you don’t have health insurance, you can expect to pay for the total cost of the surgery out-of-pocket.
- Location — The region, state, and city you live in can affect the cost of your hip replacement. If you live in a rural area with fewer facilities to choose from, you’ll likely end up paying more than you would if you lived in a big city with many providers. Traveling for a medical procedure can be a great money-saving option. However, you should keep in mind that most doctors recommend waiting about a month after hip replacement surgery before traveling long distances.
Is the price of hip replacement surgery different at inpatient and outpatient facilities?
The cost of hip replacement surgery will vary greatly between inpatient and outpatient facilities. The national average hip replacement cost at inpatient facilities is $43,370, while the same procedure averaged only $27,220 at outpatient facilities.
What is the cost of hip replacement surgery with and without insurance?
Insured patients can typically expect to pay less than uninsured patients for hip replacements, especially when they stay in-network. Nearly everyone who has a hip replacement will have to pay some of the cost out-of-pocket. If you have health insurance, including Medicare, you’ll be responsible for paying your deductible, copay, and/or coinsurance amounts. If you’re uninsured, you’ll be responsible for the total cost of your surgery.
How important is it to find a provider in your health insurance network?
Your health insurance negotiates special rates with certain healthcare providers and facilities. This makes in-network providers almost always cheaper than out-of-network providers.
More factors that affect the cost of a hip replacement:
- Cost of the implant — Your artificial hip implant makes up a significant part of the total price of your surgery. The cost of your implant can depend on:
- The implant brand
- The materials it’s made of (for example, titanium versus stainless steel)
- Whether it’s customized or off-the-shelf
- The supplier your facility uses for their implants
- Prescriptions — A physician may prescribe painkillers or antibiotics after your hip replacement surgery. You’ll pay less for your prescriptions if they’re covered by your insurance policy. You can also save money by asking if you can get a generic version of the same medicine.
- Additional office visits — Sometimes, you may be charged a separate fee for an initial consultation with your surgeon before the procedure. You’ll also need to schedule follow-up appointments after your hip replacement — usually at six weeks, three months, and one year. Patients often see their doctor once a year after that, unless problems arise. Ask if these follow-up visits are included in the total cost of your procedure.
- Bundled payments — Sometimes, you may be able to ask for your hip surgery costs to be bundled together into one flat rate. For example, when you work with our Patient Assist program, the price you’re quoted includes:
- The physician’s fees
- The facility’s fees
- Anesthesia fees
- The cost of all materials used during the surgery
- Any pathology or lab fees incurred if the physician requests that specimens be studied after your surgery
- Your initial consultation
- Up to 3 follow-up visits within 90 days of the procedure
Using a service that allows you to bundle your fees can make it easier to budget for the total cost of your surgery.
Are there alternatives to hip replacement surgery?
If your doctor tells you that you need a hip replacement, it’s usually because you’ve tried non-surgical options, such as medication and physical therapy, without success. Alternatives to hip replacement surgery include:
- Arthroscopic hip surgery — Hip arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive surgery used to repair tendons, remove inflamed or damaged tissue, and shave bone spurs through small incisions made around the joint. This procedure has shorter recovery times than hip replacement surgery. However, it may not help patients whose pain and mobility issues are caused by arthritis.
- Hip resurfacing: Like a total hip replacement, hip resurfacing involves implanting an artificial ball and socket into the hip joint. However, in this surgery, the femoral head (top of the thigh bone) isn’t removed completely. Instead, it’s shaved down and covered with a smooth metal covering that acts as the ball in the joint. This surgery is typically only done on younger, more active patients.
- Subchondroplasty — Subchondroplasty is a newer alternative to joint replacement. It may be an option for patients whose arthritis hasn’t caused too much damage to the bones in the hip joint. During this procedure, a surgeon injects a bone substitute around the weakened bones. Over time, your body gradually replaces the bone substitute with new bone growth. Subchondroplasty has a shorter and easier recovery time than a total hip replacement. Unfortunately, little information is available about the long-term success of the procedure.
If you’re interested in pursuing an alternative to hip replacement surgery, your doctor should be able to walk you through your different options. You should also feel free to ask another physician for a second opinion before making your decision.
Your hip replacement checklist:
- Review the total price of your hip replacement with your surgeon. Ask them to explain what each cost is for and keep a record of your conversation. If you get a higher medical bill than you expected, this information will come in handy.
- Ask your surgeon if they can perform the procedure in an outpatient setting.
- Make sure that all providers are in-network, including specialists like anesthesiologists.
- Ask what the typical cost is if the surgeon finds other areas that need to be repaired during your hip replacement surgery.
Finding a fair price for your hip replacement
The average cost for hip replacement surgery in the U.S. is $39,880, but you may be able to pay much less for your procedure. New Choice Health’s Orthopedic Surgery Assistance program can help you find financing options and discounted pricing that could lower the total cost of your hip replacement surgery to $24,550.
Click here to learn how you can save money on your procedure today.
