Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia's concentrated healthcare market, with over 90% of residents served by just three major insurers, creates unique pricing dynamics for specialty care. Knee Arthroscopy patients in DC typically pay between $442.70 and $1,590.65, with a median cost of $927.13 based on actual negotiated rates from insurance transparency files. With 314 active Knee Arthroscopy providers throughout the District, patients have substantial options for finding quality care that fits their budget and insurance network.
Average
$987
Median
$927
Lowest
$443
Highest
$1,591
Providers
314
5% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,061 | $2,323 | $3,475 | 309 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,045 | $2,286 | $3,311 | 318 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $414 | $887 | $1,311 | 318 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $511 | $1,109 | $1,618 | 326 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $413 | $1,016 | $1,405 | 334 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $647 | $1,525 | $3,201 | 348 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $461 | $1,057 | $1,588 | 311 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $220 | $479 | $681 | 315 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $381 | $901 | $1,221 | 308 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $434 | $1,066 | $1,611 | 317 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $328 | $739 | $1,686 | 310 |
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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, driven by high real estate costs, federal employee insurance plans, and a concentrated provider market within a small geographic area. The District's unique position as a federal enclave with high-income residents creates pricing pressures not seen in typical state markets.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Unlike most states, DC has no rural areas, but significant cost variations exist between downtown medical districts near major hospitals and neighborhood practices in outer wards. Patients in Wards 7 and 8 may face longer travel times to specialty orthopedic care, while downtown locations near MedStar Washington Hospital Center command premium pricing.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major academic centers like George Washington University Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital typically charge higher facility fees for arthroscopic procedures compared to independent surgery centers. Community-based orthopedic groups in areas like Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill often provide the same quality care at 30-40% lower total costs.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
With CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield holding dominant market share alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, DC's concentrated insurer market limits pricing competition among providers. This concentration allows the major insurers to negotiate relatively favorable rates, though it also means fewer network options for patients seeking the lowest-cost providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
District of Columbia's 314 active Knee Arthroscopy providers serve not only DC residents but also patients from Maryland and Virginia, creating steady demand that supports premium pricing. The high concentration of specialists relative to the small population suggests adequate supply, though the best surgeons often have 4-6 week wait times for non-urgent procedures.
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 District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in District of Columbia?
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 |