The Hip Replacement Quote Breakdown
One of the most price-transparent procedures in American surgery, thanks to bundled-price pioneers. Here is what every component costs.
Total hip replacement is one of the few major surgeries where truly all-inclusive cash prices exist. The Surgery Center of Oklahoma publishes a flat $17,579 covering surgeon, facility, anesthesia, five days of home health, 30 days of physical therapy, durable medical equipment, and medications. That benchmark makes it possible to measure every other quote you receive against a real number.
The standard line items
| Component | What it covers | Typical 2026 cash range |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon fee | Orthopedic surgeon performing the arthroplasty | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Implant (prosthesis) | Femoral stem, femoral head, acetabular cup, liner. Material matters. | $6,000 – $14,000 |
| Facility fee | Hospital or ASC; includes OR, nursing, 1 to 3 night stay | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Anesthesia | General or spinal; typically 2 to 3 hours | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Post-op physical therapy | 30 to 90 days of PT. Some bundles include it; most do not. | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Imaging (pre-op) | X-rays, possibly CT or MRI for templating | $200 – $800 |
| All-in total | Everything above combined | $17,000 – $45,000+ |
The range is enormous because a cash-pay patient at a transparent ASC might pay $17,000 to $20,000 all-in, while the same patient at a hospital system that does not offer a bundled self-pay rate could face a chargemaster bill of $50,000 to $100,000 before negotiation. The underlying surgery is identical.
The implant: the biggest single variable
Hip implant costs to the facility range from roughly $4,000 to $12,000 depending on material, brand, and whether the surgeon uses a standard or premium component. The facility marks this up before passing it to the patient.
Metal-on-polyethylene: The most common and least expensive bearing surface. The polyethylene liner is highly cross-linked to reduce wear. Expected to last 20 to 25 years in most patients.
Ceramic-on-polyethylene: The ceramic femoral head produces less friction and wear debris. Slightly more expensive ($500 to $1,500 premium over metal-on-poly). Often preferred for younger, more active patients.
Ceramic-on-ceramic: Lowest wear rates, but carries a small risk of squeaking and fracture. The most expensive standard option.
The Surgery Center of Oklahoma sells implants "at cost with no markup," which is why their all-inclusive price undercuts most hospital quotes despite including post-op care. Ask your facility whether implants are sold at cost or marked up, and by how much.
Hospital stay: the line item most quotes leave vague
Most hip replacements now involve a 1 to 2 night hospital stay, though some centers perform anterior-approach hip replacements as outpatient (same-day discharge) procedures. The hospital-stay portion of the facility fee typically runs $2,000 to $5,000 per night at a hospital and $1,000 to $2,000 per night at an ASC with overnight capability.
Physical therapy: bundled or billed separately
Post-op PT is essential for a good outcome and typically runs 2 to 3 sessions per week for 6 to 12 weeks. At $75 to $150 per session (cash pay), that adds $1,800 to $5,400 to the total cost. Bundled-price programs like SCO include 30 days of PT in their number. Most hospitals and many surgeons do not. Ask whether PT is in the quote, and if so, how many sessions and for how many weeks.
The abroad comparison
Total hip replacement at JCI-accredited hospitals in Colombia typically runs $8,000 to $14,000 all-in, including the implant, surgeon, hospital stay (2 to 4 nights), anesthesia, and initial physical therapy. That is 50 to 65 percent below the US cash range for the same procedure with a comparable implant. Patients should plan for 10 to 14 days in-country and arrange PT at home for the weeks following return.
Surgical approach and its effect on the quote
Total hip replacement can be performed through several surgical approaches: posterior, lateral (direct lateral or anterolateral), and anterior. The approach affects recovery speed, precautions during rehabilitation, and to some extent the cost. Anterior-approach hip replacement has grown rapidly in popularity because it involves less muscle disruption and allows faster rehabilitation, but it requires a specialized operating table (the Hana table) and specific surgical training that not all orthopedic surgeons have.
From a pricing standpoint, the anterior approach may add $500 to $2,000 to the surgeon fee at practices that price it separately from the posterior approach. At bundled-price centers and abroad, the approach is included in the all-inclusive price with no premium. If your surgeon recommends the anterior approach, ask whether the quoted price applies to that specific approach or to a posterior approach with the anterior being an upgrade.
Post-discharge costs that extend the bill
The surgical quote covers the operation and hospital stay. What follows can add $3,000 to $10,000 to the total cost depending on your recovery trajectory and whether your surgeon's program includes post-discharge care.
Durable medical equipment (DME) includes a walker ($30 to $100), a raised toilet seat ($25 to $60), a shower chair ($30 to $80), hip precaution pillows ($20 to $50), and compression stockings ($20 to $40 per pair). Home health aide visits for the first week ($150 to $300 per visit, 2 to 3 visits typical) add another $300 to $900. Outpatient physical therapy at $75 to $150 per session, 2 to 3 times per week for 6 to 12 weeks, is the largest post-discharge expense: $1,800 to $5,400 at cash-pay rates.
Bundled-price programs like the Surgery Center of Oklahoma include DME, 5 days of home health, and 30 days of PT in their published price. Most hospital quotes do not. Ask specifically what post-discharge services are included and what you will need to arrange and pay for independently.
Pre-operative optimization and its costs
Most orthopedic surgeons require medical clearance before hip replacement. For a healthy patient under 65, this might involve a basic physical exam, blood work, and an EKG at a total cash cost of $200 to $500. For patients with cardiac history, diabetes, obesity, or other comorbidities, the clearance process may include a stress test ($500 to $2,000), additional specialist consultations ($150 to $400 each), and sometimes a pre-operative optimization program (weight loss, blood sugar control, smoking cessation) that delays surgery by weeks or months.
These pre-operative costs are never included in the surgical quote. If you have comorbidities, budget an additional $500 to $3,000 for the clearance process and ask your surgeon during the initial consultation what they will require before scheduling.
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Message us on WhatsApp Open the quote logCommon questions
Does the SCO price of $17,579 include the implant?
The Surgery Center of Oklahoma sells implants at cost with no markup, but the implant is listed as a separate line item on your itemized bill. The $17,579 published price covers surgeon, facility, anesthesia, home health, PT, DME, and drugs. Implant cost is additional but at cost, typically adding $4,000 to $8,000 depending on the component chosen.
How much does an anterior-approach hip replacement cost compared to posterior?
The surgical approach (anterior vs posterior) does not dramatically change the overall cost. The surgeon fee may be slightly higher for anterior approach at some practices due to specialized training and table requirements, but the difference is typically $500 to $1,500 rather than a fundamental cost-tier change.
Can a hip replacement really be done as an outpatient procedure?
Yes. Same-day discharge after anterior-approach total hip replacement is increasingly common at ambulatory surgery centers for appropriately selected patients (generally under 75, BMI under 40, no significant cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities, with a caregiver at home). This eliminates the per-night hospital stay charge entirely.
What does the chargemaster price look like versus cash pay?
Chargemaster (billed) prices for total hip replacement at major hospital systems commonly run $50,000 to $100,000 or more. This is the sticker price that an uninsured patient is billed by default. The negotiated cash-pay or self-pay rate is typically 40 to 70 percent lower. Always ask for the self-pay rate explicitly and in writing.