Shoulder Replacement Cost

Typical costs:

• Shoulder replacement surgery typically costs $7,000-$21,000 or more, depending on the type of implants used and the hospital in which the procedure is performed. According to a 2007 study^[2] by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, a shoulder replacement's total costs, on average, are $10,351. A more recent report ^[3] by Zimmer, a manufacturer of orthopedic prosthetics including those used in shoulder replacements, notes that in 2011 Medicare typically paid between $10,919 and $13,413 for total, partial and reverse shoulder replacements. In Vermont community hospitals, costs for this class of surgery ranged from about $7,000 to more than $21,000.
• Shoulder replacement surgery typically is covered by health insurance. For insured patients, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a specialist copay, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more, and coinsurance of 10%-50% for the procedure, which could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation^[4] , the average hospital copay is $132 for outpatient surgery and for $232 inpatient surgery. The average coinsurance rate is 17%-18%.

• According to the Cleveland Clinic^[5] , patients who are interested in shoulder replacement would have an initial appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. The visit may include a series of x-rays, a physical examination and a thorough review of the patient's medical history.
• Shoulder replacement surgery^[6] is an inpatient procedure. It is typically scheduled in advance, lasts about two hours, and brings an average hospital stay of one to three days. A series of pre-operative tests, including blood tests, an electrocardiogram and a physical exam will be scheduled a few weeks before surgery.
• Depending on the damage to the cartilage, the surgeon may decide to replace only the ball of the joint. Patients who have severe arthritis, completely torn rotator cuffs, or had a previous shoulder replacement that failed, may also be advised to get a reverse total shoulder replacement^[7] in which a metal ball is attached to the shoulder bone and a plastic socket to the upper arm bone.

• Physical therapy following surgery can help to improve the shoulder's range of motion. For insured patients out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of $10 -$75 per session or coinsurance of 10%-50% or more. For uninsured patients it typically costs$50 -$350 or more per session.

• Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital^[8] in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges. They'll also be offered an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of receiving a bill.

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons features an orthopedic surgeon finder^[9] .

1.  orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00094
2.  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16980898
3.  www.zimmer.com/web/enUS/pdf/Shoulder_Coding_Guide_7-21-11.pdf
4.  kff.org/health-costs/report/employer-health-benefits-2012-annual-survey/
5.  my.clevelandclinic.org/services/shoulder_replacement/hic_total_shoulder_joint_repl...
6.  my.clevelandclinic.org/services/shoulder_replacement/hic_total_shoulder_joint_repl...
7.  orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00504
8.  www.sjo.org/For-Patients/Your-Hospital-Bill/Self-Pay-Discount-Program.aspx
9.  www7.aaos.org/member/directory/directory.aspx

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does Growing Medical Marijuana Outdoors Cost?		How Much Do Crutches Cost?		How Much Do Eyeglasses Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

The hot summer weather has started. How much does central air conditioning cost? We give our advice on where to buy Purell and hand sanitizers. Looking for an indoor pet? Usage of streaming services is skyrocketing. We list the current deals. Staying cool during the summer also means on the road. We cover the cost of car air conditioning.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Replace Toilet Wax Ring (DIY) Paid: 25.00 Cost could have been cheaper, but previous owners hired a plumber and contractor who didn't do the job right. So we ran into problems. The first wax ring didn't work, so we had to buy the old fashioned type... [more] -JT Holm Toilet Repair Cost Plumbing totourial Paid: 0.00 I am appalled by some of these charges myself and yes plumbers have a hard,disgusting and exhausting job and it’s not for everyone... [more] -Caleb Domec Plumber Cost Ischemic stroke Paid: 89000.00 I had a CT scan, they called helicopter to transfer to trauma hospital in Atlanta, but neurosurgeon there said the stroke is is I n a deep area, and would be too dangerously to remove the clot surgically... [more] -Marie-Jose Stroke Treatment Cost Connective tissue graft Paid: 1300.00 Had to get a connective tissue graft for three of my teeth on my lower left and likely will need a few more done down the road (genetics). The procedure took about an hour and was pain-free... [more] - Gum Tissue Graft Cost Alaska propane pricing 2020 Paid: 130.71 No contract price is $3.87 x 32.8 gallons + $3.81 fee = delivered remote Cooper Landing Alaska. New contract renewal $1.91/gallon for delivery plus propane cost which I need to check on... [more] -Keith Mantey Propane Cost Funeral Paid: 160.00 Can somebody contact me... [more] -Terrance Samuel Releasing Doves Cost