Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Alabama
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alabama's healthcare system, anchored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham's renowned medical center and a network of regional hospitals, offers patients access to quality orthopedic care throughout the state. Knee Arthroscopy patients typically pay between $382 and $1,165, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $619 based on negotiated insurance rates. Alabama has over 2,300 active Knee Arthroscopy providers across the state, allowing patients to browse all available specialists in their area.
Average
$722
Median
$619
Lowest
$382
Highest
$1,165
Providers
2,356
23% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Alabama?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $964 | $1,625 | $2,946 | 2,353 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,512 | $2,767 | 2,636 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $418 | $688 | $1,195 | 2,384 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $450 | $822 | $1,450 | 2,367 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $672 | $1,208 | 2,672 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $608 | $1,138 | $1,856 | 2,372 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $433 | $687 | $1,315 | 2,358 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $195 | $351 | $615 | 2,367 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $356 | $598 | $1,111 | 2,352 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $366 | $652 | $1,251 | 2,366 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $294 | $566 | $910 | 2,356 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 29881 — Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 29881 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 29881 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 29881 covers: the provider's professional fee for knee arthroscopy. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Alabama
These hospitals in Alabama are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
FAYETTE, AL
DADEVILLE, AL
PHENIX CITY, AL
BIRMINGHAM, AL
TROY, AL
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Knee Arthroscopy Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama
Alabama's healthcare costs run approximately 8% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive provider market in major metropolitan areas. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural hospitals creates significant price variations depending on where patients seek care.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Alabama's orthopedic specialists are heavily concentrated in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, and Huntsville, with limited options in rural counties across the Black Belt and northern regions. Patients in rural areas often travel 50+ miles for specialized knee care, which can add transportation costs but may result in lower procedure fees compared to urban academic centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned orthopedic clinics, particularly those affiliated with UAB Medicine, Baptist Health, or Ascension Saint Thomas, typically charge higher facility fees than independent surgical centers. Ambulatory surgery centers in Alabama often provide the same arthroscopic procedures at 30-50% lower costs than hospital outpatient departments due to lower overhead expenses.
Insurance Market Competition in Alabama
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama's market dominance means most providers accept their plans, but negotiated rates can vary significantly between their different product lines. Limited insurer competition in Alabama's individual market has historically resulted in higher premiums but relatively stable provider networks compared to more volatile markets.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama
With over 2,300 active Knee Arthroscopy providers serving Alabama's 5.2 million residents, the state has adequate specialist coverage in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic imbalance creates longer wait times in underserved areas while maintaining competitive pricing in cities like Birmingham and Mobile where multiple specialists compete for patients.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Knee Arthroscopy Costs in Alabama
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Alabama without insurance?
Does Alabama Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Alabama?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Alabama?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Alabama?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 29881)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Range: $80 – $8,767 | $2,976 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $4,236 | $1,989 |
| 3 | Idaho Range: $80 – $4,173 | $1,697 |
| 4 | Rhode Island Range: $452 – $2,410 | $1,253 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Range: $438 – $2,410 | $1,247 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $338 – $2,258 | $1,163 |
| 7 | Connecticut Range: $366 – $2,410 | $1,161 |
| 8 | Delaware Range: $412 – $2,410 | $1,154 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Range: $366 – $2,410 | $1,133 |
| 10 | Wyoming Range: $648 – $1,845 | $1,133 |
| 11 | New York Range: $384 – $2,410 | $1,111 |
| 12 | Georgia Range: $450 – $2,024 | $1,109 |
| 13 | Iowa Range: $452 – $1,680 | $1,102 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $573 – $1,631 | $1,073 |
| 15 | Nebraska Range: $655 – $1,294 | $1,041 |
| 16 | West Virginia Range: $482 – $1,901 | $1,025 |
| 17 | South Dakota Range: $387 – $1,811 | $991 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $443 – $1,591 | $987 |
| 19 | New Jersey Range: $412 – $1,845 | $945 |
| 20 | Maine Range: $634 – $1,087 | $925 |
| 21 | North Carolina Range: $450 – $1,504 | $916 |
| 22 | North Dakota Range: $331 – $1,591 | $891 |
| 23 | Illinois Range: $90 – $1,895 | $880 |
| 24 | Maryland Range: $485 – $1,591 | $878 |
| 25 | New Mexico Range: $487 – $1,281 | $869 |
| 26 | Colorado Range: $452 – $1,326 | $861 |
| 27 | Utah Range: $80 – $1,294 | $844 |
| 28 | Kentucky Range: $394 – $1,419 | $843 |
| 29 | Michigan Range: $452 – $1,294 | $833 |
| 30 | Oregon Range: $80 – $1,591 | $811 |
| 31 | Indiana Range: $90 – $1,642 | $798 |
| 32 | Vermont Range: $410 – $1,326 | $788 |
| 33 | Washington Range: $80 – $1,475 | $773 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $421 – $1,250 | $765 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $422 – $1,266 | $765 |
| 36 | Mississippi Range: $424 – $1,330 | $761 |
| 37 | Arkansas Range: $479 – $1,034 | $755 |
| 38 | Tennessee Range: $466 – $1,057 | $738 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $382 – $1,165 | $722 |
| 40 | Missouri Range: $507 – $892 | $720 |
| 41 | Virginia Range: $389 – $1,182 | $719 |
| 42 | Nevada Range: $452 – $1,051 | $717 |
| 43 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $1,287 | $706 |
| 44 | Louisiana Range: $394 – $1,089 | $693 |
| 45 | Oklahoma Range: $442 – $1,009 | $671 |
| 46 | Kansas Range: $507 – $860 | $668 |
| 47 | Ohio Range: $338 – $983 | $635 |
| 48 | Arizona Range: $452 – $907 | $604 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $1,127 | $429 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $985 | $382 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $980 | $357 |