Meniscus Surgery Cost in 2026

If you're researching meniscus surgery costs across the United States, you'll find significant price differences between providers — even those just miles apart.

Surgical costs for meniscus surgery across the United States are influenced by operating room fees, anesthesia, surgeon fees, and any implants or specialized equipment. Academic medical centers and large health systems often charge more than community hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers.

Based on data from 1605 hospitals across the United States, meniscus surgery prices range from $0 to $224,314 — a 224314.5x difference. This wide variation underscores why comparing prices before scheduling is critical for controlling your out-of-pocket costs.

The setting where meniscus surgery is performed across the United States significantly impacts total cost. Hospital inpatient stays are the most expensive, followed by hospital outpatient departments, then ambulatory surgery centers.

For patients who are medically appropriate for outpatient surgery, ASCs offer a compelling combination of lower cost and shorter wait times. Many are physician-owned and focus exclusively on surgical care.

Discuss options with your surgeon and, if you're self-pay, ask about pricing at each available setting before scheduling.

Uninsured and self-pay patients can frequently access meniscus surgery at a lower cost than insured rates. Many hospitals across the United States offer cash discounts of 30–70% off the standard chargemaster rate.

Across the United States, the average cash price for meniscus surgery is $7,258, which is 41% lower than the average list price of $12,267. This discount is typical of what self-pay patients can expect when asking for the hospital's uninsured rate.

For insured patients, the negotiated rate between your plan and the hospital determines your cost share. If you haven't met your deductible, you may pay more than the cash price. It's worth asking the hospital whether their self-pay rate is lower than what your insurance would charge — some patients save money by not filing a claim.