Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Alaska
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alaska's challenging geography and extreme weather conditions create unique orthopedic health challenges, with winter-related injuries and arthritis from cold exposure affecting many residents across the Last Frontier. For patients seeking specialized knee care, Knee Arthroscopy providers in Alaska typically charge patients between $80 and $1,127 out-of-pocket, with a median cost of $80 based on actual insurance negotiated rates. With 352 active Knee Arthroscopy providers practicing throughout Alaska's urban centers and regional hubs, patients can browse qualified specialists from Anchorage to Fairbanks to find the right care for their specific needs.
Average
$429
Median
$80
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,127
Providers
352
54% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Alaska?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $1,871 | $6,450 | 35 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,137 | $1,818 | $6,292 | 39 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $697 | $2,135 | 50 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $80 | $80 | $913 | 359 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $80 | $1,339 | 374 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,023 | $4,191 | 51 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $80 | $80 | $1,251 | 351 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $372 | $768 | 48 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $440 | $684 | $2,338 | 37 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $838 | $2,902 | 52 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $561 | $1,957 | 34 |
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.
Why Knee Arthroscopy Visit Costs Vary Across Alaska
Healthcare costs in Alaska run approximately 35% above national averages due to the state's remote location, challenging logistics, and higher operational expenses for medical facilities. The vast geographic distances and extreme weather conditions create unique cost pressures that affect everything from equipment transport to staff recruitment and retention.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Most of Alaska's orthopedic specialists practice in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, creating significant access challenges for patients in rural communities and bush Alaska. Rural residents often face additional travel costs, lodging expenses, and time away from work when seeking specialized arthroscopic care. The Alaska Native Medical Center serves as a major referral hub for indigenous communities throughout the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based orthopedic clinics dominate Alaska's specialist market, with major health systems like Providence Alaska Medical Center and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital operating most arthroscopic facilities. Independent surgical practices are less common due to the high costs of maintaining advanced arthroscopic equipment in Alaska's challenging environment. Hospital-owned practices typically charge facility fees in addition to professional fees, increasing overall patient costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Alaska
Premera Blue Cross Alaska maintains dominant market share in the state's health insurance market, giving it significant leverage in negotiating rates with orthopedic providers. Limited insurer competition reduces pricing pressure on providers compared to more competitive markets in the lower 48 states. The individual marketplace has seen volatility in recent years, with fewer plan options available in some regions.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alaska
With 352 active Knee Arthroscopy providers serving Alaska's population of approximately 730,000 residents, the state maintains reasonable specialist availability in urban areas but significant gaps in rural regions. Many orthopedic surgeons trained in Alaska leave for opportunities in warmer climates with higher compensation, creating ongoing recruitment challenges. The shortage of specialists in certain regions allows providers to maintain higher pricing due to limited competition.
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 Alaska
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Alaska without insurance?
Does Alaska Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Alaska?
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 Alaska?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Alaska?
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 |