Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty)
CPT Code: 27447
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Check My Bill for Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty) →Understanding the cost of Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty)
What does the Medicare rate mean?
The Medicare rate of $1,318.45 is the amount the federal government pays providers for CPT 27447under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. It’s the most widely published benchmark for what a procedure "should" cost and is used as a reference point by commercial insurers when negotiating their own rates.
What do commercial insurers pay?
Commercial insurers (Blue Cross, Aetna, UnitedHealth, etc.) negotiate rates independently with each provider network. As a rule of thumb, these rates fall in the $1,582.14 – $2,636.90 range for Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty) — roughly 1.2 to 2 times Medicare. If you were billed significantly more, the excess may be negotiable.
What if I was billed more than the commercial range?
Bills above the typical commercial range are common, especially for uninsured or out-of-network patients who receive chargemaster (list) prices. You have several options:
- Ask for the Medicare rate or self-pay discount — many providers will accept this immediately.
- Request an itemized bill — billing errors are common and can account for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- Appeal if you have insurance — if the procedure was denied or you were billed out-of-network, you have the right to appeal.
- Ask about financial assistance — nonprofit hospitals are required by law to offer charity care programs.
How surgery charges like this are billed
Surgery is billed under a global surgical package: a single price that already includes the operation, routine pre-operative evaluation, and normal post-operative care for a defined period (often 90 days for major surgery). The biggest cost problems are paying separately for care the global package covers, plus assistant-surgeon and multiple-procedure charges that have their own rules.
Common billing problems with surgery charges
Post-operative visits billed inside the global period
Routine post-surgical follow-up during the global period is already paid for. Separate office-visit charges for normal recovery care may be inappropriate.
Assistant surgeon charges that are not supported
Not every procedure justifies an assistant surgeon, and assistant services are paid at a reduced rate. An unsupported or full-price assistant charge is worth reviewing.
Multiple-procedure reductions not applied
When several procedures are performed in one session, secondary procedures are typically reduced. If each procedure was billed at full price, the reduction may have been missed.
How to push back on this charge
Ask for the operative report and the global-period rules for your procedure. Confirm that follow-up care, assistant-surgeon billing, and multiple-procedure reductions were all handled correctly before paying.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty) cost without insurance?
Without insurance, you may be billed the chargemaster (list) rate, which can be 3–10× the Medicare rate. For Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty), that could mean a bill of $3,955.35–$6,592.25 or more. Always ask for the self-pay or cash-pay rate before accepting the listed price — providers often offer significant discounts.
What is CPT code 27447?
CPT 27447 is the Current Procedural Terminology code assigned to Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty). It’s used by providers, insurers, and Medicare to identify and bill for this specific service. You’ll find it on your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or itemized bill.
Can I negotiate the cost of Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty)?
Yes. Negotiating medical bills is common and often successful. Referencing the Medicare rate of $1,318.45 gives you a credible, federally published benchmark to anchor the conversation. Many providers will accept 1–1.5× Medicare as a cash settlement.