What does joint replacement actually cost?
Nationally, an in-network knee or hip replacement bills roughly $30,000–$60,000, and a shoulder replacement roughly $30,000–$55,000 — but what you pay is usually your plan's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, often a few thousand dollars. The two biggest levers on the total: your insurance plan, and whether the surgery happens in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. We own the second lever.
Where the money actually goes
- Facility
The biggest line item
The operating room, recovery space, and staff time. This is where hospital and surgery-center bills diverge most — and why where you have surgery matters as much as what surgery you have.
- Implant
The hardware itself
Modern implants are engineered to last 15–20+ years. This cost is fairly consistent between settings.
- Surgeon
The professional fee
Usually the smallest of the three major lines — the part people assume is biggest almost never is.
- After
Anesthesia, therapy, follow-up
Anesthesia bills separately; physical therapy runs per visit under your plan's PT benefits — ours is in-house, on the same chart.
Why our surgery center changes the math
Sterling Ridge operates its own ambulatory surgery center at Woodforest, built with Memorial Hermann. For qualified patients, same-day joint replacement there typically carries meaningfully lower facility costs than a hospital stay — published comparisons for knee replacement commonly show savings around 40% — with equal or better outcomes and satisfaction in the research. Same surgeon, same implant, smaller bill, your own bed that night. The robot comes too.
Insurance: the short version
We're in-network with major plans — Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, and United Healthcare. Before anything is scheduled, our team verifies your benefits and tells you what your plan will actually do — deductible, out-of-pocket max, prior authorization — so the estimate you get is yours, not an internet average.
The timing trick nobody tells you
If you've already met your deductible this year — say, from the MRI and the injections that got you here — surgery before December 31 can cost dramatically less than the same surgery in January, when the meter resets. It's why our fall consult calendar fills first. Not medical advice, just arithmetic; we'll walk your specific numbers in the consult.
Common questions
Does Medicare cover joint replacement?
Yes — medically necessary knee, hip, and shoulder replacement are covered, including at approved outpatient surgery centers. Your share depends on your Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan; we verify it before you decide.
What does an MRI cost here?
Imaging-center MRIs routinely cost a fraction of hospital MRIs for the identical scan. We do imaging on-site.
What about injections — cortisone, gel shots, PRP?
Cortisone injections are typically covered by insurance. PRP is usually not covered and runs cash-pay — nationally about $500–$2,500 per injection. We'll always tell you which category you're in before anything happens. More on PRP and regenerative options →
Can I get a real estimate before deciding on surgery?
Yes — that's the standard here, not a favor. Benefits verified, estimate in hand, before you're asked to decide anything.
Medically reviewed by Keith W.V. Johnson, MD, FAAOS · Updated September 28, 2026