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Knee Replacement Cost in Washington, DC (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a knee replacement cost in Washington, DC?

You could pay $2,544 or $8,781 for the same knee replacement in Washington, DC — depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 23 reporting hospitals is $4,573. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Even within Washington, DC, Fredericksburg ($3,562) and Alexandria ($11,913) are 3.3× apart on the median price. The same knee replacement that costs $774 at CalvertHealth Medical Center reaches $21,379 at Potomac Hospital Corporation of Prince William in Woodbridge — a 27.6× gap across the 23 Washington, DC hospitals reporting prices. A typical Washington, DC facility lands around $4,573 — most sit in the $2,422–$8,781 band. Insurers negotiate this down to a median of $4,280, while self-pay patients are quoted $4,573.

Forecast your out-of-pocket cost

How prices are distributed across Washington, DC hospitals:
  • Lower-cost hospitals (bottom 25%): under $2,422
  • Median hospital: $4,573
  • Higher-cost hospitals (top 30%): $8,781+

That's a 4× spread for the same procedure — driven entirely by which facility you choose, not by clinical complexity.

Example — two commercially insured patients in Fredericksburg:
  • Patient A (higher-rate plan or out-of-network): ~$8,781
  • Patient B (lower-rate in-network plan): ~$2,544
Same procedure. Same week. $6,237 difference.

Cheapest Knee Replacement Providers in Washington, DC

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

# Facility City Price vs Median
1 CalvertHealth Medical Center DC $2,029 -$2,544
2 Aiken Regional Medical Centers Nw, DC $2,030 -$2,543
3 UM Laurel Medical Center Laurel, DC $2,033 -$2,540
4 UM Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, DC $2,310 -$2,263
5 Henry Ford Health DC $2,534 -$2,039
6 SPOTSYLVANIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Fredericksburg, DC $2,550 -$2,023
7 UM Capital Region Medical Center Largo, DC $2,664 -$1,909
8 Shady Grove Medical Center Rockville, DC $3,351 -$1,222

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

The facility you choose matters more than almost anything else — the same procedure, same quality, same state can cost 5× more at one hospital versus the one down the road.

Compare all procedure costs   → Knee Replacement costs nationwide

Check YOUR hospital's pricing → Estimate YOUR exact cost →

Worth knowing: Declared gross charges vary significantly across Washington, DC hospitals — the same procedure can look very different on a hospital's price list versus what you actually owe. Cash and negotiated prices are a more practical guide.
Every hospital in this dataset offers a cash price — with a median of $4,573. If your deductible hasn't been met, always ask for the self-pay rate before scheduling.

What you'll actually pay — example scenarios

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met (pay in full) ~$4,573
Deductible met — 20% coinsurance ~$915
Out-of-network provider $10,061+

Based on the state median facility price of $4,573. Your actual cost depends on your plan deductible, coinsurance rate, and network tier. Get YOUR personalized estimate →

What this means for you

If you haven't met your deductible, you are effectively a cash-pay patient.

That means:

  • You should verify your hospital is in-network before an elective visit when possible
  • The cheapest facility can save you $3,799+ vs. the median.

This is the single biggest lever most patients have to reduce their cost.

Lower-cost options in Washington, DC start around $2,422 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $2,422 and $10,566. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.

If you're comparing specific hospitals, the lowest self-pay rates reported in this dataset include: Aiken Regional Medical Centers in Nw (cash price from $2,030); UM Laurel Medical Center in Laurel (cash price from $2,033); UM Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata (cash price from $2,310). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick decision guide:
  • Best value hospitals (lowest prices): PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Georgetown LLC: $774; St. Luke's Hospital at The Vintage: $1,095; CalvertHealth Medical Center: $2,029
  • Most expensive (outpatient): Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital: ~$12,897; Inova Alexandria Hospital: ~$11,913

→ Choosing the right facility can save $3,799+ vs. the state median.

Washington, DC Knee Replacement prices by facility

All prices below come from hospital chargemasters — the official price lists each hospital must publish under federal law. Gross charge is the undiscounted list price; cash price is the self-pay rate; negotiated range covers the spread across insurance contracts.

How we calculate "Your Price" — We prioritize the most actionable price in this order:
  1. Cash price — the self-pay rate you can actually negotiate and pay
  2. Negotiated rate — if reported by the hospital across insurance contracts
  3. Gross charge — fallback only; this is the inflated list price few people pay

This reflects the real prices patients encounter — not inflated chargemaster rates.

# Facility City Your Price vs Median Gross Charge
#1 PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Georgetown LLC DC $774 -$3,799 $774–$1,681
#2 St. Luke's Hospital at The Vintage Houston, DC $1,095 -$3,478 $1,095–$1,997
#3 CalvertHealth Medical Center DC $2,029 -$2,544 $504–$10,705
#4 Aiken Regional Medical Centers Nw, DC $2,030 -$2,543 $822–$16,192
#5 UM Laurel Medical Center Laurel, DC $2,033 -$2,540 $787–$2,604
#6 UM Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, DC $2,310 -$2,263 $681–$7,812
#7 Henry Ford Health DC $2,534 -$2,039 $1,365–$24,879
#8 SPOTSYLVANIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Fredericksburg, DC $2,550 -$2,023 $2,550–$21,033
#9 UM Capital Region Medical Center Largo, DC $2,664 -$1,909 $1,476–$4,882
#10 Shady Grove Medical Center Rockville, DC $3,351 -$1,222 $3,420–$16,608
#11 Potomac Hospital Corporation of Prince William Woodbridge, DC $3,988 -$585 $3,988–$40,424
#12 Mary Washington Hospital Fredericksburg, DC $4,573 +$0 $4,573–$10,939
#13 Stafford Hospital DC $4,573 +$0 $4,573–$8,741
#14 Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, DC $4,889 +$316 $4,989
#15 Southfield Rehabilitation Company Southfield, DC $6,000 +$1,427 $6,000–$23,000
#16 MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton, DC $8,489 +$3,916 $8,663–$9,578
#17 DOMINION HOSPITAL Falls Church, DC $9,220 +$4,647 $9,220–$17,203
#18 Inova Alexandria Hospital Alexandria, DC $11,913 +$7,340 $11,913–$17,869
#19 Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Alexandria, DC $11,913 +$7,340 $11,913–$17,869
#20 Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church, DC $11,913 +$7,340 $11,913–$17,869
#21 Inova Fair Oaks Hospital DC $11,913 +$7,340 $11,913–$17,869
#22 Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Katy, DC $12,897 +$8,324 $12,897–$33,466
#23 WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC Front Royal, DC $21,379 +$16,806 $21,379–$27,166

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Source: CMS hospital price transparency machine-readable files. vs Median = savings or premium relative to the state median price. Gross Charge = undiscounted list price for reference.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go →

Compare other procedures in Washington, DC:

Where you can save the most on knee replacement in Washington, DC

These facilities have the lowest declared prices relative to the state median — they represent the best opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Facility City Your Price vs Median
PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Georgetown LLC DC $774 -$3,799
St. Luke's Hospital at The Vintage Houston, DC $1,095 -$3,478
CalvertHealth Medical Center DC $2,029 -$2,544
Aiken Regional Medical Centers Nw, DC $2,030 -$2,543
UM Laurel Medical Center Laurel, DC $2,033 -$2,540

How to choose a lower-cost facility

  • Choose independent outpatient centers when possible — freestanding ASCs (ambulatory surgical centers) consistently charge less than hospital outpatient departments for identical procedures.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met — self-pay rates are often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied, especially at facilities that have a high cash-price discount.
  • Avoid hospital outpatient departments for routine cases — hospital-owned locations add a facility fee that freestanding centers don't charge, often adding $500–$1,500 to the same procedure.
Important: Many procedures are done at ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) that are often 30–60% cheaper than hospital outpatient departments with the same clinical quality. Most ASCs are not in this hospital dataset — meaning your cheapest option may not even appear here. Ask your doctor if the procedure can be done at a freestanding ASC.

Most expensive knee replacement providers in Washington, DC

These facilities report the highest prices for this procedure. Academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often top this list — their gross charges rarely reflect what anyone actually pays, but understanding the spread helps you negotiate.

Facility City Price vs Median
WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC Front Royal, DC $21,379 +$16,806
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Katy, DC $12,897 +$8,324
Inova Alexandria Hospital Alexandria, DC $11,913 +$7,340
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Alexandria, DC $11,913 +$7,340
Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church, DC $11,913 +$7,340

Why prices vary this much

Setting drives much of the gap in Washington, DC: the median outpatient price is $4,280 versus $4,573 inpatient, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the Washington, DC facilities reporting prices, 6 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $2,422) while 6 sit in a high-cost tier ($10,566 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.

The spread comes from how each hospital sets its chargemaster (the undiscounted list price), what cash discounts it applies, and what rates it negotiates with each insurer. Facility classification matters too — a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Understanding these mechanics is the first step to paying less.

Learn more:
Allowed amount vs negotiated rate — what your EOB is really saying
How to read your medical bill
Why hospital prices are so hard to find — and what to do about it

How insurance changes what you actually pay

Hospital list prices are only part of the picture. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility is in-network, and whether your plan classifies the visit as outpatient or inpatient. A lower gross charge doesn't guarantee a lower bill if the facility is out-of-network or adds facility fees your plan doesn't cover.

Understand your cost before you go:
Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
EOB vs medical bill — complete guide
How to stop medical bill problems before they start (in-network vs out-of-network)

Compare knee replacement costs in nearby states

Frequently asked questions: knee replacement costs in Washington, DC

How much does a knee replacement cost in Washington, DC?

Across 23 Washington, DC hospitals that publish prices, a knee replacement ranges from $774 to $21,379, with a median of $4,573. Most facilities fall between $2,422 and $8,781. 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 replacement in Washington, DC?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Washington, DC data is PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Georgetown LLC at about $774. By metro, Fredericksburg has the lowest median ($3,562). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging 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 replacement so much cheaper at some Washington, DC hospitals?

Prices vary up to 27.6× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Washington, DC, the median cash (self-pay) price is $4,573 versus a median negotiated rate of $4,280 — about 1.1× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 replacement in Washington, DC?

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.

Explore all knee replacement cost data

See knee replacement costs across all states

Where You Get a Knee Replacement Matters

Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2–4× more than ASCs or independent centers for the same procedure — same outcome, very different bill.

Ambulatory Surgery Center

Ambulatory Surgery Center typically carries a mid-range price for a knee replacement. Typically 40–60% less than hospital OP for surgical procedures. Anesthesia billed separately. You can shop here — call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote.

Hospital Inpatient

Hospital Inpatient typically carries the highest price for a knee replacement. DRG-based billing bundles most services. Professional fees billed separately. Length of stay drives cost.

What's Actually on Your Knee Replacement Bill

A knee replacement involves multiple providers — each bills separately. Understanding each line item helps you verify your Explanation of Benefits and catch billing errors.

Asc

  • ASC Facility Fee — Device-intensive (J8 payment indicator) — ASC payment = OPPS payment minus device offset. MRF data shows 30–70% less than hospital OP in some markets.
  • Orthopedic Surgeon Professional Fee
  • Anesthesia
  • Implant Device Cost

Hospital Inpatient

  • Drg Facility Stay — DRG 470 (major joint replacement without MCC) most common.
  • Orthopedic Surgeon Professional Fee
  • Anesthesia
  • Implant Device Cost

Knee Replacement Cost by Type

Which type your doctor orders changes the billing code — and what you pay. Here's how the common types differ.

Total Knee Replacement

A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. Most common. Replaces entire joint surface.

Partial Knee Replacement (Unicompartmental)

A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. Less invasive when only one compartment is damaged. Faster recovery.

Knee Revision Surgery

A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. Replacement of a failed implant. Significantly more complex and expensive.

This Procedure Is Shoppable — Choosing the Right Facility Can Save Thousands

Knee Replacement is elective and schedulable. You have time to compare facilities — and hospital outpatient prices often run 2–4× higher than ASC for identical clinical outcomes.

How to shop: Ask your doctor for the CPT code, then call 2–3 facilities and request an out-of-pocket cost estimate. Confirm your insurance is accepted. If uninsured, ask for the cash-pay rate — it's usually 20–50% below the list price.

Prior Authorization Is Usually Required

Most commercial and Medicare Advantage plans require pre-approval for knee replacement before scheduling. If your doctor submits the order without prior authorization — or if the authorization lapses — your insurer can deny the entire claim, leaving you responsible for the full cost.

Action step: Call the member services number on your insurance card before scheduling. Ask: "Does this procedure require prior authorization?" Get the authorization number in writing and confirm it's attached to the claim before your appointment.

The Implant Is the Largest Cost Driver

For knee replacement, the implant or device typically accounts for 40–70% of the total hospital bill. Surgeons have preferred device relationships that affect which implant is used — and different implants can vary by $5,000–$15,000 in cost.

What to ask: Request an itemized estimate that breaks out the implant separately. Ask your surgeon whether a comparable implant is available at a lower cost.

Who performs this: Knee Replacement is typically performed by a Orthopedic Surgery. The specialist's professional fee is billed separately from the facility charge — you will likely receive separate bills from each.


CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. If you've received a bill for this procedure:
Analyze your medical bill for errors
How to negotiate your medical bills
Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account)

Other Procedure Costs in Washington, DC

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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 June 12, 2026

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