Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts leads New England with over 1,000 active Knee Arthroscopy providers, reflecting the state's concentration of academic medical centers and specialist networks. Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy typically pay between $438 and $2,410, with a median cost of $892 based on negotiated insurance rates. The Bay State's robust healthcare infrastructure means patients can browse numerous qualified providers across urban centers like Boston and Worcester as well as suburban communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Average
$1,247
Median
$892
Lowest
$438
Highest
$2,410
Providers
1,023
33% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,061 | $2,196 | $6,051 | 1,004 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $2,012 | $6,060 | 1,302 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $403 | $935 | $2,078 | 1,014 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $476 | $1,057 | $2,717 | 1,072 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $834 | $2,485 | 1,368 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $710 | $1,297 | $3,890 | 1,012 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $456 | $1,001 | $2,788 | 1,010 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $219 | $455 | $1,237 | 1,012 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $397 | $834 | $2,168 | 1,003 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $350 | $988 | $2,408 | 1,009 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $338 | $721 | $1,957 | 1,008 |
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 Massachusetts
These hospitals in Massachusetts are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA
BOSTON, MA
OAK BLUFFS, MA
BOSTON, MA
BOSTON, MA
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranks approximately 20% above national averages for orthopedic procedures, driven by the concentration of world-renowned medical institutions and higher regional operating costs. The state's dense population centers create intense competition for specialist services while supporting premium pricing for advanced arthroscopic techniques.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Boston contains the majority of fellowship-trained knee specialists, while western Massachusetts counties like Berkshire and Franklin rely more heavily on general orthopedists who perform arthroscopy alongside other procedures. This geographic concentration means rural patients often travel to Springfield, Worcester, or Boston for complex cases, potentially increasing total treatment costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Teaching hospitals like Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, and Boston Medical Center command premium rates due to their academic affiliations and research capabilities, while community hospitals in Lowell, Fall River, and Cape Cod offer more moderate pricing. Free-standing ambulatory surgery centers provide the most cost-effective option for routine arthroscopic procedures without compromising quality of care.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
The state's three dominant insurers - BCBS MA, Tufts Health Plan, and Harvard Pilgrim - maintain competitive networks that generally include both academic medical centers and community providers. This market structure creates negotiated rate variations between insurers, with some plans securing better pricing at specific hospital systems through exclusive partnerships or volume commitments.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With over 1,000 providers performing knee arthroscopy across the Commonwealth, Massachusetts enjoys robust specialist availability that should theoretically moderate pricing through competition. However, the concentration of prestigious programs attracts patients from throughout New England, creating sustained demand that supports higher rates particularly in the Boston metropolitan area.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Massachusetts?
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 |