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North Dakota

Cost of a Knee Replacement Surgery Visit
in North Dakota

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

North Dakota's rural healthcare landscape creates unique cost dynamics for orthopedic care, with many patients traveling significant distances to access specialized Knee Replacement Surgery services. Patients typically pay between $1,198 and $3,475 for Knee Replacement Surgery procedures, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $1,894 based on actual negotiated rates from insurance transparency data. With 37 active Knee Replacement Surgery providers across the state, patients can browse all providers in North Dakota to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.

Average

$2,189

Median

$1,894

Lowest

$1,198

Highest

$3,475

Providers

37

National avg: $2,275North Dakota: $2,189

4% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does knee replacement compare to related procedures in North Dakota?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement (arthroplasty)

27130$91$91$2,019455
Cataract Surgery

Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion

66984$80$746$1,60941
Knee Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy

29881$331$752$1,59143
Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

47562$691$6,146$6,146470
Appendectomy (Laparoscopic)

Laparoscopic appendectomy

44970$80$800$1,76755
Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic)

Laparoscopic total hysterectomy

58571$610$1,240$2,59740
Septoplasty

Nasal septum repair

30520$381$849$1,62742
Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary

42820$237$399$82038
Inguinal Hernia Repair

Inguinal hernia repair

49505$437$709$1,53739
Mastectomy

Partial or simple mastectomy

19301$478$885$1,82040
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Open carpal tunnel release

64721$319$596$2,59138

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 27447Total knee arthroplasty). 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 27447 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 27447 (Total knee arthroplasty), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 27447 covers: the provider's professional fee for knee replacement. 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 Replacement Surgery Visit Costs Vary Across North Dakota

North Dakota's orthopedic care costs run approximately 4% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and the concentration of specialized services in Fargo and Bismarck. The challenge of maintaining orthopedic expertise across vast rural areas creates unique cost pressures that affect both patients and providers throughout the state.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

The majority of North Dakota's Knee Replacement Surgery specialists practice in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, forcing rural patients to travel 100+ miles for specialized care. This geographic concentration allows urban practices to charge premium rates while rural patients face additional costs for travel, lodging, and time off work for multiple appointments.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-owned orthopedic clinics in North Dakota typically charge 20-40% more than independent practices due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Sanford Health's dominance across multiple markets gives the system significant negotiating power with insurers, often resulting in higher reimbursement rates that get passed on to patients as increased copays and deductibles.

Insurance Market Competition in North Dakota

The limited competition between BCBS ND, Sanford Health Plan, and UHC creates a relatively stable but high-cost insurance environment for orthopedic care. Sanford Health Plan's vertical integration with Sanford Health providers can create cost advantages for members but may limit choice, while BCBS ND maintains broader provider networks at potentially higher negotiated rates.

Physician Supply and Demand in North Dakota

With only 37 active Knee Replacement Surgery providers serving the entire state, North Dakota faces a moderate shortage of orthopedic specialists relative to its aging population and active agricultural workforce. This supply constraint contributes to longer wait times for non-urgent procedures and gives existing providers more pricing power, particularly for complex joint replacement surgeries that require specialized expertise.

JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Knee Replacement Surgery Costs in North Dakota

What is the average cost of a Knee Replacement Surgery visit in North Dakota without insurance?

Uninsured patients in North Dakota can expect to pay between $1,198 and $3,475 for Knee Replacement Surgery procedures, with a median cost of $1,894 based on actual negotiated rates. Many providers offer cash-pay discounts of 15-30% for uninsured patients, and major health systems like Sanford Health provide financial assistance programs that can significantly reduce these costs for qualifying patients.

Does North Dakota Medicaid cover Knee Replacement Surgery visits?

Yes, North Dakota expanded Medicaid covers Knee Replacement Surgery visits and procedures when medically necessary. Coverage includes consultations, imaging studies, and joint replacement surgeries, though patients may need prior authorization for expensive procedures. The expansion has made orthopedic care accessible to many more low-income residents who previously couldn't afford specialized joint care.

How do I find an affordable Knee Replacement Surgery near me in North Dakota?

Compare costs across providers using transparency data, as the same consultation can vary by hundreds of dollars between facilities. Look for independent orthopedic practices rather than hospital-owned clinics, ask about self-pay discounts if uninsured, and consider community health centers in Fargo and Bismarck that may offer sliding-scale fees for specialty consultations.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Initial Knee Replacement Surgery consultations typically cost between $1,198 and $3,475 for comprehensive evaluations, while follow-up visits generally range from $200 to $600 depending on the complexity of care required. New patient visits involve extensive examination and treatment planning, while established patient visits focus on monitoring progress and adjusting treatment plans, resulting in significantly lower costs.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee Replacement Surgery visit in North Dakota?

Yes, both HSA and FSA funds can be used to pay for medically necessary Knee Replacement Surgery visits, consultations, and procedures. These tax-advantaged accounts cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for orthopedic care, making expensive joint replacement surgeries more affordable by allowing you to pay with pre-tax dollars.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Replacement Surgery in North Dakota?

Telemedicine consultations with orthopedic surgeons typically cost 30-50% less than in-person visits, making them valuable for follow-up appointments and initial screenings. However, most knee problems require physical examination and imaging, so telehealth is primarily useful for post-operative monitoring and discussing treatment options rather than comprehensive diagnostic evaluations in North Dakota's rural areas.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$843
$4,785

Office visit (CPT 27447)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Wisconsin
Range: $73$10,559
$4,785
2Rhode Island
Range: $1,136$6,051
$3,170
3Alaska
Range: $1,136$6,451
$3,152
4Massachusetts
Range: $1,061$6,051
$3,102
5Connecticut
Range: $909$6,051
$2,917
6Delaware
Range: $1,005$6,051
$2,914
7Montana
Range: $92$6,877
$2,879
8Pennsylvania
Range: $909$6,051
$2,837
9Wyoming
Range: $1,657$4,492
$2,807
10South Dakota
Range: $1,099$5,330
$2,798
11Georgia
Range: $1,131$5,082
$2,783
12New York
Range: $898$6,051
$2,746
13Minnesota
Range: $873$5,078
$2,705
14New Hampshire
Range: $1,433$4,078
$2,650
15Iowa
Range: $95$4,753
$2,594
16West Virginia
Range: $1,204$4,734
$2,556
17Nebraska
Range: $1,637$3,009
$2,527
18Washington
Range: $1,606$3,703
$2,474
19New Jersey
Range: $952$4,588
$2,321
20New Mexico
Range: $1,216$3,606
$2,318
21North Carolina
Range: $1,136$3,785
$2,311
22Maine
Range: $1,713$2,689
$2,297
23Oregon
Range: $1,116$3,635
$2,288
24District of Columbia
Range: $1,061$3,475
$2,286
25Colorado
Range: $1,136$3,475
$2,220
26North Dakota
Range: $1,198$3,475
$2,189
27Utah
Range: $842$2,906
$2,184
28Kentucky
Range: $977$3,564
$2,126
29Michigan
Range: $1,136$3,355
$2,121
30Maryland
Range: $1,204$3,475
$2,015
31Idaho
Range: $1,061$3,049
$2,001
32Indiana
Range: $90$4,087
$1,966
33Hawaii
Range: $1,018$2,946
$1,953
34Vermont
Range: $958$3,286
$1,900
35South Carolina
Range: $1,060$3,108
$1,898
36Mississippi
Range: $1,039$3,303
$1,895
37Illinois
Range: $85$3,789
$1,884
38Arkansas
Range: $1,138$2,603
$1,878
39Texas
Range: $1,056$3,006
$1,877
40California
Range: $75$3,286
$1,863
41Nevada
Range: $1,136$2,632
$1,853
42Alabama
Range: $964$2,946
$1,845
43Tennessee
Range: $1,147$2,647
$1,843
44Missouri
Range: $1,272$2,246
$1,811
45Virginia
Range: $976$2,946
$1,798
46Louisiana
Range: $989$2,664
$1,757
47Kansas
Range: $1,272$2,223
$1,698
48Ohio
Range: $848$2,491
$1,603
49Arizona
Range: $1,097$2,276
$1,503
50Oklahoma
Range: $85$2,533
$1,311
51Florida
Range: $35$2,438
$843
Knee Replacement in Other States