Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in South Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Carolina's growing ambulatory surgery center market has created more competitive pricing for specialized procedures, with over 1,000 active Knee Arthroscopy providers across the state. Patients typically pay between $422 and $1,266 for knee arthroscopy procedures, with a median cost of $607 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state's moderate healthcare market offers patients multiple options for finding cost-effective arthroscopic care, from Charleston's medical district to Greenville's expanding healthcare corridor.
Average
$765
Median
$607
Lowest
$422
Highest
$1,266
Providers
1,038
19% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in South Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,060 | $1,527 | $3,108 | 1,028 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,442 | $2,907 | 1,247 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $327 | $647 | $1,383 | 1,098 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $483 | $710 | $1,594 | 1,072 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $631 | $1,290 | 1,336 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $975 | $2,061 | 1,098 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $466 | $679 | $1,422 | 1,031 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $194 | $307 | $644 | 1,089 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $391 | $554 | $1,170 | 1,025 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $318 | $696 | $1,315 | 1,094 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $334 | $467 | $1,030 | 1,029 |
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 South Carolina
South Carolina's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and moderate provider competition. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural clinics creates notable pricing variations across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville metro areas concentrate most orthopedic specialists, while rural counties like Bamberg and McCormick have limited access to arthroscopic surgery. Patients in rural areas often travel 50+ miles for specialized care, though this can sometimes result in lower procedure costs at regional medical centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned orthopedic practices affiliated with systems like MUSC Health or Prisma Health typically charge higher facility fees than independent surgery centers. Ambulatory surgery centers have grown throughout South Carolina, offering competitive pricing for outpatient arthroscopic procedures without hospital overhead costs.
Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina
BCBS SC holds significant market share across the state, with UHC and Aetna providing competition primarily in urban markets. This moderate level of competition helps keep negotiated rates reasonable, though rural areas may have fewer insurer options limiting price pressure on providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina
With over 1,000 active providers performing knee arthroscopy procedures, South Carolina maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population. This healthy supply helps prevent the artificial price inflation seen in physician shortage areas, though wait times can extend 2-4 weeks for non-urgent procedures in popular practices.
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 South Carolina
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in South Carolina without insurance?
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in South Carolina?
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 |