Estimated range: $15,559 – $39,186
| Component | Typical Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital facility fee | $8,000-$22,000 | Teaching hospitals and large medical centers charge 2-3x what community hospitals charge for the same procedure. |
| Surgeon fee | $4,000-$8,000 | Orthopedic surgeons in private practice often offer cash discounts that hospital-employed surgeons cannot. |
| Anesthesia | $1,500-$3,500 | Anesthesiologists bill separately and may not be covered by your surgeon's self-pay rate. |
| Hip implant | $3,000-$8,000 | Hospitals mark up implants 100-400% above cost. Ask your surgeon whether a standard-tier implant fits your case. |
| Pre-op imaging and labs | $500-$2,000 | Get pre-op bloodwork and X-rays at an independent lab or imaging center, not the hospital. |
Call the hospital billing department, say you have no insurance, and ask for the self-pay or uninsured cash price for CPT code 27130. Most hospitals will drop 30-50% off the standard billed rate. They will not volunteer this number.
Freestanding surgery centers do hip replacements for $12,000-$20,000 all-in, compared to $25,000-$38,000 at a hospital. Clinical outcomes for uncomplicated cases are equivalent.
Every non-profit hospital must offer charity care to patients under a certain income threshold, often up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Apply before your procedure because hospitals will not retroactively apply assistance to a paid bill.
Federal law gives you the right to a binding written cost estimate before any scheduled procedure. If your final bill comes in $400 or more above that estimate, you can dispute the excess through federal dispute resolution.
Call the hospital billing department and say: 'Hi, I am a self-pay patient. I need a total hip replacement, CPT code 27130. Can you give me your self-pay cash price for the facility fee? Does that include the surgeon and anesthesia, or do they bill separately?' Write down the name of the rep and the date you called.
You can legally force the hospital to give you a written price quote before agreeing to anything. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate at least 72 hours before your procedure and the hospital is bound to honor it. Full guide →
CareCredit offers 0% promotional financing for 6-24 months on medical procedures if you qualify. Prosper Healthcare Lending offers fixed-rate loans up to $65,000 with terms up to 84 months, which brings a $20,000 procedure to about $270 per month.