If you are planning to undergo a knee replacement surgery, to reduce pain and improve the mobility in your knees, it is important that you get as much information about it, as possible. To start off, speak to your physician about the surgical procedure, anesthesia, potential risks or side effects, the approximate recovery period, aftercare and the activities that you should perform and avoid after the surgery. You also need to know what the approximate cost for knee replacement surgery is and whether it is covered by your insurance plan or not.
Average Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery
The average cost for a knee replacement surgery in the America is around US$ 45,000. You could pay anywhere between US $ 30,000 and US 60,000 for this operation. There are different factors that could influence the cost for a knee replacement surgery, such as:
- The type of surgery you are going through (partial or total)
- The state that you are getting the surgery performed in
- The medical facility that you choose
- The devices and types of prosthesis used
- Your orthopedic surgeon's expertise and fee structure
- Your overall health and the amount of time you need to stay in the hospital
In case the knee replacement surgery has been ordered by your physician, your insurance company should pay for some of the costs. However, you need to confirm that cost for knee replacement treatment is covered by your plan. The deductibles and coinsurance also determine your out-of-pocket expenses, which could go up to several thousand dollars.
Many medical institutions offer discounts on the overall cost for knee replacement treatment, for those patients who do not have health insurance. As an uninsured patient, you could pay as less as US$ 20,000 at a medical facility, where the full cost for a knee replacement surgery is US$ 35,000.
However, the average cost for knee replacement surgery is much higher in the US, as compared to a few other countries. Many patients without the required insurance cover have gone through knee replacement in foreign countries, like India or Mexico. The average cost for a knee replacement surgery in some of the foreign countries is -
- Costa Rica - US$ 10,500
- India - Around US$ 7,500
- Mexico - Around US$ 12,500
- Singapore - Around US$ 20,000
- Taiwan - Around US$ 10,000
- Thailand - Around US$ 13,000
If you would like to make arrangements to undergo a knee replacement surgery abroad, it is best that you contact a medical tourism company.
However, do bear in mind that there are numerous other costs associated with traveling to another country for treatment. Moreover, after the surgery, you will need to go through physical therapy for a couple of weeks, which may not be feasible in a foreign country. Speak to your physician to determine which options are the most suitable for you.
References
- http://www.niams.nih.gov/news_and_events/spotlight_on_research/2009/knee_oa_replacement.asp
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/knee-replacement/
- http://tc.engr.wisc.edu/uer/uer01/author1/content.html
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2234298/
Submitted by N on April 13, 2012 at 06:18