2026 Forecast Verified

ACL Surgery (ACL Reconstruction) Cost in Iowa (2026)

Slightly below the national average · RPP 95.5 · IA

Iowa Average
$19,100
▼ -4.5% below national
Typical Range
$9,550 – $28,650
National avg: $20,000
Editorial view of Iowa
Regional Pricing Confidence
88% Confidence Index
The Iowa Market

What Drives Pricing Here

Three factors explain most of why acl surgery (acl reconstruction) costs what it does in Iowa.

Regional Price Parity

Iowa's cost-of-living index sits at 95.5 — meaningfully below the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.

Specialist Availability

25 facilities perform this procedure in Iowa — competition keeps pricing honest and gives you real leverage to shop quotes.

Vs. National Benchmark

At -4.5% below the national average ($20,000), Iowa is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.

State Context

ACL Surgery (ACL Reconstruction) in Iowa: What to Know

In Iowa, the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City stands out as a high-volume center for ACL reconstruction. Beyond the major facilities, Iowa City Ambulatory Surgery Center performs almost 1800 orthopedic procedures each year, including ACL reconstruction, as a cost-effective alternative to hospital care. While specific data on patients traveling out of state for ACL surgery in Iowa is limited, it's worth noting that some patients do travel for specialized medical expertise. Iowa does not appear to have Certificate of Need laws that would limit the availability of such procedures.

If you're seeking more affordable options, consider exploring ambulatory surgery centers like Iowa City ASC, which may offer cost savings compared to traditional hospitals. These centers often provide high-quality care in a convenient and less stressful environment. Verify current pricing directly with providers.

Itemized Breakdown

Estimated Cost Breakdown in Iowa

You'll pay a bit less for acl surgery (acl reconstruction) in Iowa compared to the national average. Here's how costs are distributed.

Facility Fee

OR time and hospital staffing

$4,011 - $7,449

Most significant cost

Surgeon Fee

Expertise and experience level

$4,011 - $7,449

Implants & Supplies

$2,006 - $3,724

Post-Op Care

Recovery and aftercare

$2,006 - $3,724

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee

$1,337 - $2,483

Total Estimated Cost

Iowa all-in range

$9,550 – $28,650

Financing Options

Many Iowa clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $19,100 looks like:

$796/mo
Est. 24 months · 0% APR promo
  • Soft credit check — no hard pull
  • Instant approval decisions
  • HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases

Cost estimates are adjusted for regional pricing. See how we calculate state-level costs →

Ranges adjusted for Iowa's regional price parity (95.5). See the national percentage breakdown →

Hospital-Level Data

Facility Costs in Iowa

These Iowa facilities handle the most acl surgery (acl reconstruction) cases. The negotiated rate reflects what's actually paid after insurer discounts.

Facility City Negotiated Rate Medicare Volume
University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City $2,711 $2,151 182
Mary Greeley Medical Center Ames $2,656 $2,108 115
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center West Burlington $2,836 $2,248 86
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo $2,497 $1,964 86
Finley Hospital Dubuque $2,634 $2,095 78
Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer $2,601 $2,072 69
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines $2,652 $2,106 59
Allen Hospital Waterloo $2,612 $2,071 53
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center Mason City $2,894 $2,296 52
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids $2,583 $2,033 52
Regional Comparison

ACL Surgery (ACL Reconstruction) Cost in Nearby States

Neighboring states offer a range of acl surgery (acl reconstruction) pricing. Iowa falls in the middle of the pack.

Missouri
$18,360
-3.9% vs IA
Nebraska
$19,300
+1.0% vs IA
South Dakota
$19,360
+1.4% vs IA
Wisconsin
$19,960
+4.5% vs IA
Illinois
$20,240
+6.0% vs IA
Minnesota
$20,700
+8.4% vs IA
Common Questions

Expert Answers for Iowa Patients

Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to Iowa.

Compare Iowa with any other state

See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main acl surgery (acl reconstruction) cost guide.

View full acl surgery (acl reconstruction) guide
How much does acl surgery (acl reconstruction) cost in Iowa?
Expect to budget around $19,100 for acl surgery (acl reconstruction) in Iowa. The typical range spans $9,550 to $28,650 — where you land depends on your provider, whether you choose a hospital or outpatient center, and the specifics of your case.
Will my health insurance pay for acl surgery (acl reconstruction)?
Insurance typically picks up most of the tab for acl surgery (acl reconstruction) when it's medically indicated. In Iowa, confirm your surgeon is in-network and get pre-authorization before scheduling to avoid surprise bills.
When can I return to work after acl surgery (acl reconstruction)?
The recovery timeline for acl surgery (acl reconstruction) is 42 to 180 days. Here's the general pattern: days 1-42 involve significant rest, days 42-180 are a gradual return to activity. Iowa patients should also budget for post-op care costs — follow-up visits, pain management, and any required imaging or lab work.
What payment options exist for acl surgery (acl reconstruction) in Iowa?
Many Iowa providers offer financing through medical credit companies like CareCredit or Prosper Healthcare Lending. You can also use HSA/FSA funds, negotiate a cash-pay discount (often 10-20% off), or ask about in-house payment plans that split the $19,100 cost into monthly installments.
How do I choose a acl surgery (acl reconstruction) facility in Iowa?
Compare facilities on volume (higher volume correlates with better outcomes), accreditation status, and the negotiated rate vs. what you'd pay out of pocket. In Iowa, check whether an outpatient surgery center can perform your acl surgery (acl reconstruction) — ASCs typically charge 30-50% less than hospitals for the same procedure.
Is it worth traveling to another state for acl surgery (acl reconstruction)?
At $18,360, Missouri is the cheapest neighboring option — 4% below Iowa's average. If the savings justify your travel and lodging costs, it's a viable option. Many border-area patients do this, especially for elective procedures where timing is flexible.
Does Iowa Medicaid cover acl surgery (acl reconstruction)?
Iowa Medicaid may cover acl surgery (acl reconstruction) when it's medically necessary and your doctor provides supporting documentation. Coverage details vary by managed care plan, so check directly with your Medicaid provider for pre-authorization steps.
Data Sources & References

How we calculate acl surgery (acl reconstruction) costs in Iowa

Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:

  • •
    Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
  • •
    HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project) — AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
  • •
    Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational Wages — BLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
  • •
    BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for Iowa's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
  • •
    FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
  • •
    Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment Data — CMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.

Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.

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