Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Minnesota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Minnesota's robust network of orthopedic specialists and ambulatory surgery centers drives competitive pricing for knee arthroscopy procedures across the state. Patients typically pay between $337 and $2,258 for knee arthroscopy, with a median cost of $892, based on negotiated rates from 491 active providers throughout Minnesota. The state's expanded Medicaid program and strong insurance market competition between BCBS MN, UnitedHealthcare, and HealthPartners help keep out-of-pocket costs manageable for most patients seeking arthroscopic knee procedures.
Average
$1,163
Median
$892
Lowest
$338
Highest
$2,258
Providers
491
24% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Minnesota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $873 | $2,164 | $5,078 | 478 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $91 | $91 | $3,227 | 1,859 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $90 | $763 | $1,548 | 375 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $444 | $6,146 | $6,146 | 1,845 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $898 | $2,095 | 511 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,311 | $3,576 | 484 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $91 | $808 | $1,627 | 341 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $94 | $447 | $705 | 344 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $344 | $778 | $1,787 | 410 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $445 | $953 | $2,393 | 418 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $358 | $722 | $1,930 | 403 |
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 Minnesota
These hospitals in Minnesota are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
ST PETER, MN
GLENWOOD, MN
PERHAM, MN
CLOQUET, MN
AITKIN, MN
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 Minnesota
Minnesota's knee arthroscopy costs run approximately 25% above national averages, reflecting the state's concentration of prestigious medical centers and higher-than-average physician compensation. The Twin Cities metropolitan area drives much of this premium pricing, while Greater Minnesota providers offer more competitive rates that often fall below national benchmarks.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area concentrates most of Minnesota's orthopedic specialists, creating premium pricing but excellent access to subspecialty care including cartilage restoration and complex arthroscopy. Rural counties often require patients to travel 1-2 hours for arthroscopic procedures, though regional centers in Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud provide quality care at lower cost points. Mayo Clinic's Rochester campus attracts patients statewide but commands premium pricing that reflects its international reputation.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient departments at systems like M Health Fairview and Allina Health carry higher facility fees than independent ambulatory surgery centers throughout Minnesota. The state's certificate-of-need laws historically limited ASC development, though recent expansions have increased competition and lowered costs in suburban markets. Academic medical centers including the University of Minnesota charge teaching hospital rates that can exceed community hospital pricing by 30-40%.
Insurance Market Competition in Minnesota
BCBS MN, UnitedHealthcare, and HealthPartners dominate Minnesota's commercial insurance market, with relatively balanced market share that promotes competitive provider reimbursement rates. The state's cooperative and staff-model HMO tradition creates strong negotiating power with orthopedic specialists, helping control arthroscopy costs for insured patients. Minnesota's robust small-group insurance market means many patients have access to comprehensive orthopedic benefits that include arthroscopy coverage.
Physician Supply and Demand in Minnesota
With 491 active providers performing knee arthroscopy across Minnesota, the state maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population of 5.7 million residents. This healthy supply-demand balance prevents the access bottlenecks seen in other states, keeping wait times reasonable and providing patients with multiple provider options. The concentration of specialists in the Twin Cities creates some geographic disparities, but telemedicine consultations help bridge gaps for rural 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 Minnesota
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Minnesota without insurance?
Does Minnesota Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Minnesota?
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 |