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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $10-$900+ |
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A knee brace can be used for prevention of injury during sports, support after an injury or surgery, or relief of arthritis symptoms.
Typical costs: | - For patients covered by health insurance, the typical out-of-pocket cost for a doctor-prescribed knee brace consists of a durable-goods copay or coinsurance of 10%-50%. A knee brace typically is covered by health insurance if it is prescribed by a doctor.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, a knee brace typically costs about $10-$50 for a basic brace, made of elastic or fabric, for light to moderate support during sports. For example, DrugStore.com charges about $10 to a little more than $50 for over-the-counter knee braces[1] .
- A knee brace for recovery from injuries or surgery typically costs about $30-$300 or more, but can increase to $800 or more depending on the materials. The cost tends to be on the lower end -- usually less than $150 -- for a basic neoprene brace, and on the higher end, usually $200 or more, for a hinged brace made of lightweight aluminum or other durable material. For example, BraceShop.com charges about $15-$150 for braces for patellofemoral pain (runner's knee) and about $20-$200 for braces for meniscus injuries. BraceShop.com typically charges about $30-$300 for a post-operative knee brace. Braces for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries typically cost about $100-$800.
- A knee brace to provide relief from arthritis can cost from $50-$900, depending on the severity and the support needs. BraceShop.com charges about $50 to almost $900 for a knee brace for arthritis. Wraparound fabric or neoprene braces that provide minimal support typically cost under $100, while braces made from aluminum alloy or other metals, and provide maximum support typically cost about $400-$900.
Related articles: Crutches, Physical Therapy, ACL Reconstruction, Knee Replacement, Torn Meniscus Treatment, Pain Management
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What should be included: | - A prophylactic brace, worn to prevent injury during sports, provides added support to the knee. Prophylactic braces often are made from elastic or neoprene.
- A functional brace is worn after certain types of injuries -- for example, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury[2] , a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury[3] or a meniscal tear[4] . A functional brace is designed to offer support and keep the knee more stable.
- A rehabilitative brace, worn after surgery or some injuries, is designed to limit the motion of the knee during healing.
- An onloader/offloader brace[5] helps to correct misalignment of the knee bones, which can be caused by osteoarthritis.
- The American Academy of Family Physicians offers an overview of knee bracing[6] .
- In some cases, a doctor will recommend or prescribe an off-the-shelf brace, but in other cases, an orthotist[7] will evaluate, help design and fit a patient with a brace.
Additional costs: | - Crutches typically cost about $15-$100.
- In some cases, such as after an injury or surgery, physical therapy might be required at a cost of about $50-$350 per session.
Discounts: | - Drug stores and websites that sell braces sometimes offer coupons or special offers. For example, BraceShop.com has a savings club[8] that offers a 5% discount for signing up.
Shopping for a knee brace: | - A family doctor or sports medicine doctor can prescribe a prophylactic brace to prevent sports injuries, while an orthopedic surgeon can treat injuries and perform surgery, and a rheumatologist can treat arthritis. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery offers an orthopedic specialist[9] finder by city, state or zip code; the American College of Rheumatology offers a rheumatologist locator[10] .
- In some cases, a patient may need to see an orthotist, a certified health professional who specializes in braces and other orthotics, to be evaluated and fitted for a brace. The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics offers an orthotist locator[11] by state.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Dr. Fu Manchu in Buffalo, NY. | Posted: June 6th, 2018 07:06AM |
| Type of Brace: Post-Op Breg-type 6-strap adjustable | Condition Treated: Meniscal Repair |
This costhelper website accurately captures the range of costs as of June 2018. I thought my brace would be covered 50% by insurance because I thought the hospital was "providing" it. Instead, the brace was ordered from a company that my insurance carrier didn't cover. So be sure to ask your doctor/hospital who they may order from, then verify with your insurance that the company accepts your insurance plan. If you can get your doctor to specify the specific type of brace he wants, you can probably save just as much (i.e., up to 50%) as your insurance would by direct-ordering from an online supplier. |
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| Posted by: SDThom in ?, CA. | Posted: January 15th, 2015 08:01PM |
| Type of Brace: ? | Condition Treated: Knee pain, bone on bone |
my son, who is incarcerated had to have a knee brace. The dr. on staff is charging $1300 for a knee brace saying it was special made, but they only measured his knee width and it was sent in mail. I have looked into several locations and am unable to find a knee brace of the highest quality that would cost $1300. They refuse to show him the brace as he refused it when he saw the price so don't know what it was but was ordered from Sunrise Med Equip. Why would the cost be so high - he has a bone on bone problem that seems there are many excellent braces that are not even close to $1300. Can anyone help ? |
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External Resources: | - www.drugstore.com/medicine-and-health/knee-and-thigh/qxg184103-0
- www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries-topic-overview
- orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00420
- orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00358
- www.arthritistoday.org/what-you-can-do/protecting-joints/joint-support/index.php
- familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/exercise-fitness/injury-rehab...
- oandpcare.org/OrthoticCareFaq
- www.braceshop.com/productcart/pc/viewContent.asp?idPage=151
- www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
- www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
- www.abcop.org/Pages/Directory.aspx?searchtype=Facility
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