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

What does a knee replacement cost in Wisconsin?

A typical knee replacement in Wisconsin costs $5,227–$14,843 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 93 hospitals is $6,030. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Advocate Aurora Health (formed in the Illinois-Wisconsin merger) and Ascension Wisconsin are the dominant systems in the Milwaukee market, while UW Health anchors the Madison market. Wisconsin's hospital market is moderately competitive in major metros but increasingly concentrated in rural areas. Prices tend to run near or slightly below the Midwest median.

Knee replacement is a high-cost elective procedure where facility selection has an outsized impact on total cost. Hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery center rates for knee replacement have converged on outcomes but diverged further on price — ASC rates are typically 30–50% below hospital rates for the same implant and surgeon. Medicare Advantage plans increasingly direct patients to designated bundled-payment facilities where your out-of-pocket liability is capped.

Where you go inside Wisconsin counts as much as which plan you have: Janesville's median ($12,931) runs 3× Green Bay's ($4,272). Across 93 Wisconsin hospitals that publish prices, a knee replacement runs from as little as $500 (ST VINCENT HOSPITAL in Green Bay) to $66,404 (Gundersen Health System in La Crosse) — a 132.8× spread for the same procedure. Half of Wisconsin facilities price it at or below $6,030, with most clustered between $2,495 and $8,391. Self-pay patients are quoted more than insurers actually pay: the median cash price is $6,635 versus a median negotiated rate of $4,060 — about 1.6× higher, so asking for the cash or insurer-negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on your bill.

Where knee replacement costs vary in Wisconsin

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

Estimate YOUR exact out-of-pocket cost →

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 →

Lower-cost options in Wisconsin start around $2,495 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $2,495 and $8,456. 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: Beloit Memorial Hospital in Beloit (cash price from $2,059); Richland Hospital in Richland Center (cash price from $2,116); Meriter Hospital, Inc in Madison (cash price from $2,222). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Wisconsin 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.

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 Wisconsin:

• Appendectomy Cost in Wisconsin
• Cataract Surgery Cost in Wisconsin

Where you can save the most on knee replacement in Wisconsin

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.

Most expensive knee replacement providers in Wisconsin

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.

Why prices vary this much

A small number of hospitals (3) report very high prices above $17,398, which drives much of the overall price range. Excluding these, most facilities cluster in a significantly tighter band.

Setting drives much of the gap in Wisconsin: the median outpatient price is $6,635 versus $2,172 inpatient, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the Wisconsin facilities reporting prices, 30 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $2,495) while 34 sit in a high-cost tier ($8,456 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)

Knee Replacement Costs by Metro Area in Wisconsin

Prices vary across Wisconsin metro areas based on local hospital competition, wage adjustments, and facility mix. Explore detailed facility price data for each metro area:

• Knee Replacement Cost in Eau Claire, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Fond Du Lac, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Green Bay, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Janesville, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Madison, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Milwaukee, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Oshkosh, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Racine, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Sheboygan, WI
• Knee Replacement Cost in Wausau, WI

Compare knee replacement costs in nearby states

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Florida

Frequently asked questions: knee replacement costs in Wisconsin

How much does a knee replacement cost in Wisconsin?

Across 93 Wisconsin hospitals that publish prices, a knee replacement ranges from $500 to $66,404, with a median of $6,030. Most facilities fall between $2,495 and $8,391. 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 Wisconsin?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Wisconsin data is Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center in Ashland at about $24. By metro, Green Bay has the lowest median ($4,272). 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 Wisconsin hospitals?

Prices vary up to 132.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Wisconsin, the median cash (self-pay) price is $6,635 versus a median negotiated rate of $4,060 — about 1.6× 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 Wisconsin?

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

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)