Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's robust network of ambulatory surgery centers and orthopedic practices creates a competitive market for knee arthroscopy procedures, with costs running approximately 13% above national averages. Patients typically face out-of-pocket expenses ranging from $452 to $1,326, with a median cost of $805 based on negotiated insurance rates across 1,321 active providers statewide. The state's diverse geography and strong presence of major health systems in Denver and Colorado Springs provide patients with numerous options for accessing specialized orthopedic care throughout Colorado.
Average
$861
Median
$805
Lowest
$452
Highest
$1,326
Providers
1,321
9% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,049 | $3,475 | 1,282 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $940 | $1,978 | $3,328 | 1,345 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $808 | $2,114 | 1,468 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $90 | $940 | $1,635 | 1,256 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $85 | $789 | $1,421 | 1,461 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,202 | $2,204 | 1,315 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $526 | $855 | $1,567 | 1,308 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $385 | $694 | 1,441 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $441 | $712 | $1,242 | 1,269 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $877 | $1,561 | 1,292 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $629 | $1,110 | 1,293 |
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 Colorado
These hospitals in Colorado are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
DURANGO, CO
FRISCO, CO
LAKEWOOD, CO
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
CORTEZ, CO
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 Colorado
Colorado's healthcare costs run approximately 13% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living and concentration of specialized medical facilities along the Front Range corridor. The state's challenging geography creates distinct cost tiers between urban centers and rural mountain communities where overhead costs are higher.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Denver and Colorado Springs boast dozens of orthopedic surgeons and ambulatory surgery centers, creating competitive pricing pressure that benefits patients. Rural areas like the Western Slope and San Luis Valley have fewer specialists, often requiring patients to travel for procedures or accept higher costs at critical access hospitals that lack dedicated orthopedic surgery centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient clinics affiliated with major health systems like Presbyterian/Saint Joseph, UCHealth, and SCL Health typically charge higher facility fees than independent surgery centers. These health system consolidations have reduced competition in some markets, contributing to Colorado's above-average procedure costs compared to states with more fragmented provider networks.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
The presence of major national insurers UHC and Anthem alongside integrated systems like Kaiser Permanente creates moderate competition for negotiated rates. Colorado's state insurance marketplace has remained relatively stable with multiple carrier options, preventing the monopolistic pricing seen in single-insurer rural markets in other states.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
With over 1,300 providers performing knee arthroscopy procedures statewide, Colorado has adequate specialist supply in urban areas but shortages in rural regions. The state's active outdoor recreation culture generates high demand for sports medicine services, allowing specialized orthopedic practices to command premium pricing while maintaining busy surgical schedules.
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 Colorado
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Colorado?
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 |