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

April is craft month. We have the cost of scrapbooking and other crafts. Looking for help to take care of your garden? How much does garden service cost. If you want a spring or summer wedding, now is the time to pin down the location. A BBQ grill could be handy to enjoy backyard activities during the summer months. Spring has sprung. Are you thinking about allergy shots?

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

Didn't hurt the pocketbook Paid: 43.00 I called my dentist because my tooth had been hurting for a week and a half. I couldn't eat or sleep. It was horrible. They got me in the next day. The dental surgeon and staff took x-rays, verified that it indeed needed to come out... [more] -Anxious in Augusta Tooth Extraction Cost Current cost of skirting job 2022 Paid: 2356.00 Purchased material @ mobile home supply store Front/back top trim & ground track 17 each [email protected]$9= $459. 48 [email protected]$17= $816. [email protected]$40 [email protected] $20 tax $121. Total material $1456. 3 guys total $75 hour labor at 12 hours $900 labor... [more] -Fayard siding Mobile Home Skirting Cost Alatel joy tab2 Paid: 108.00 Cracked screen... [more] -Shawn P Speers Tablet Repair Cost Replace 2baths, laundry, and kitchen to the street Paid: 20000.00 Numerous breaks in 90 year old cast iron and also in the clay pipe. replaced with 4" schedule 40 ABS to the curb and then liner in the clay pipe to the city sewer... [more] -Steve in 2022 Sewer Line Replacement Cost Full mouth -Is this estimate too much? Paid: 16945.00 Extract buttom front teeth, replace with single implant for both teeth. Root canals and crowns needed for 3 molars, fillings needed on 11 teeth. Deep cleaning with 4 spots of Arestin and fluoride treatment. All under IV sedation... [more] -Shanmarspag Dental Work Cost Lockout at front door Paid: 175.00 I was quoted $29 for a service call. The techniciandidn't give me a price but went ahead with the repair. It took about 10 minutes. Then he told me the charge was because the owner of the business gets most of the money I paid... [more] -Carla Axelrod Locksmith Cost