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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Knee Arthroscopy Cost in Iowa (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a knee arthroscopy cost in Iowa?

The same knee arthroscopy in Iowa might cost you $1,220 at one facility and $2,742 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 48 reporting hospitals is $1,678. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

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Where knee arthroscopy costs vary in Iowa

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a knee arthroscopy depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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  • ✓ What is done inside the knee: Trimming a meniscus, repairing it, or removing loose tissue are different procedures with different prices.
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Cheapest Knee Arthroscopy Providers in Iowa

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($1,678)
1 Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA $834 $844 below
2 Henry County Health Center INC Mount Pleasant, IA $862 $816 below
3 Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt, IA $864 $814 below
4 Burgess Health Center Onawa, IA $865 $813 below
5 Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Red Oak, IA $910 $768 below
6 Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center INC IA $943 $735 below
7 Greater Regional Medical Center IA $1,007 $671 below
8 HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE Harwarden, IA $1,216 $462 below

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost →  ·  When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →

Quick take

  • Broadlawns Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $834 - $844 below the median posted price ($1,678), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,455, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Ask whether this procedure can be done at a freestanding ambulatory surgical center - they're typically 30-60% cheaper than a hospital for identical care, and most aren't in this hospital-only dataset.
Knee arthroscopy prices by coverage in Iowa, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$3,343 to $3,343$3,343
With insurance (commercial, average)30$895 to $6,784$2,215
Without insurance (cash price)48$819 to $3,093$1,455
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield11$747 to $1,133$1,080
UnitedHealthcare22$845 to $8,646$5,978
Aetna20$804 to $7,805$4,276
Cigna4$919 to $1,983$1,547

Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with Medicare in Iowa?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for knee arthroscopy is about $3,343 to $3,343 (typically near $3,343). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $669 on a $3,343 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with insurance in Iowa?

Across 30 Iowa hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for knee arthroscopy average $895 to $6,784 per hospital, with a median near $2,215. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.

Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost without insurance in Iowa?

Cash (self-pay) prices for knee arthroscopy at 48 Iowa hospitals range from $819 to $3,093, with a median of $1,455. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.

Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa?

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for knee arthroscopy at 11 Iowa hospitals range from $747 to $1,133, with a median near $1,080. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.

Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with UnitedHealthcare in Iowa?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for knee arthroscopy at 22 Iowa hospitals range from $845 to $8,646, with a median near $5,978. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with Aetna in Iowa?

Aetna negotiated rates for knee arthroscopy at 20 Iowa hospitals range from $804 to $7,805, with a median near $4,276. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost with Cigna in Iowa?

Cigna negotiated rates for knee arthroscopy at 4 Iowa hospitals range from $919 to $1,983, with a median near $1,547. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How where you go changes what you pay for knee arthroscopy

The same knee arthroscopy bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient
$1,390–$28,329
  • Facility fee $760–$24,961
  • Professional fee $630–$3,368

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$1,385–$21,459
  • Facility fee $755–$18,091
  • Professional fee $630–$3,368

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Iowa's hospital market is dominated by UnityPoint Health and MercyOne (CommonSpirit), with relatively limited inter-system competition in most markets. Des Moines prices run below national averages, but facility fees at affiliated hospital systems can add substantially to the base service rates. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the primary academic referral center.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (4) report prices above $5,272, including State University of Iowa at $3,144, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $1,684 versus $1,329 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$1,678
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$336
Out-of-network provider $3,692+

Frequently asked questions: knee arthroscopy costs in Iowa

How much does a knee arthroscopy cost in Iowa?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $799, with most facilities between $368 and $2,178 (based on 47 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Iowa hospitals run $819–$3,093; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a knee arthroscopy in Iowa?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Iowa data is Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines at about $834. By metro, Waterloo has the lowest median ($1,954). Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is a knee arthroscopy so much cheaper at some Iowa hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 5.9× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Iowa, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,455 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,215 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a knee arthroscopy in Iowa?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

Before you book

Other procedures in Iowa

Knee Arthroscopy, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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