2026 Forecast Verified

Knee Replacement Surgery Cost in South Carolina (2026)

Modest savings vs. the US average · SC

South Carolina Average
$32,725
▼ -6.5% below national
Typical Range
$18,700 – $46,750
National avg: $35,000
Editorial view of South Carolina
Regional Pricing Confidence
86% Confidence Index
The South Carolina Market

What Drives Pricing Here

Three factors explain most of why knee replacement surgery costs what it does in South Carolina.

Regional Price Parity

South Carolina's cost-of-living index sits at 93.5 — meaningfully below the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.

Specialist Availability

71 facilities perform this procedure in South Carolina — competition keeps pricing honest and gives you real leverage to shop quotes.

Vs. National Benchmark

At -6.5% below the national average ($35,000), South Carolina is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.

State Context

Knee Replacement Surgery in South Carolina: What to Know

South Carolina offers diverse options for knee replacement. Prisma Health leads the state in joint replacements, recognized as a Blue Distinction® Center. Beaufort Memorial in Beaufort is among only four SC hospitals with advanced certification for total hip and knee replacement, ensuring high patient safety. Conway Medical Center was the first in SC to offer partial knee replacement with the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution, while Lowcountry Orthopaedics in Charleston provides custom 3D-printed knees and outpatient robotic surgery.

For potential savings, consider Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) like those affiliated with Lowcountry Orthopaedics, offering same-day robotic-assisted knee replacement. Additionally, Greenville Health System Patewood Memorial Hospital and Pelham Medical Center were identified for best-value outcomes. Verify current pricing directly with providers.

Itemized Breakdown

Estimated Cost Breakdown in South Carolina

South Carolina falls slightly below the national average for knee replacement surgery costs. Here's the typical cost breakdown.

Facility Fee

OR time and hospital staffing

$6,871 - $12,763

Most significant cost

Surgeon Fee

Expertise and experience level

$6,871 - $12,763

Implants & Supplies

$3,435 - $6,381

Post-Op Care

Recovery and aftercare

$3,435 - $6,381

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee

$2,291 - $4,254

Total Estimated Cost

South Carolina all-in range

$18,700 – $46,750

Financing Options

Many South Carolina clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $32,725 looks like:

$1,364/mo
Est. 24 months · 0% APR promo
  • Soft credit check — no hard pull
  • Instant approval decisions
  • HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases

Based on CMS Medicare data and regional price parities. Learn about our methodology →

Ranges adjusted for South Carolina's regional price parity (93.5). See the national percentage breakdown →

Hospital-Level Data

Facility Costs in South Carolina

South Carolina has both hospital and outpatient surgery center options for knee replacement surgery. Outpatient centers typically charge less due to lower overhead. Rates shown are negotiated amounts — what insurers actually pay, not inflated list prices.

Facility City Negotiated Rate Medicare Volume
Prisma Health Patewood Hospital Greenville $11,594 $9,989 1,005
St Francis-Downtown Greenville $11,505 $9,896 829
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center Myrtle Beach $11,499 $9,897 582
Lexington Medical Center West Columbia $11,420 $9,816 581
Mcleod Regional Medical Center-Pee Dee Florence $11,295 $9,691 489
Spartanburg Medical Center Spartanburg $12,871 $11,268 488
Musc Medical Center Charleston $11,636 $10,054 471
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital Beaufort $12,171 $10,566 470
Mount Pleasant Hospital Mount Pleasant $12,066 $10,459 436
Mcleod Loris Hospital Loris $11,514 $9,912 436
Facility City Negotiated Rate Medicare Volume
Newberry County Memorial Hospital Newberry $16,468 $14,487 154
Roper Hospital Charleston $12,823 $10,333 102
Mount Pleasant Hospital Mount Pleasant $12,067 $10,538 68
St Francis-Downtown Greenville $13,197 $10,803 67
Musc Medical Center Charleston $20,269 $15,371 44
Prisma Health Patewood Hospital Greenville $13,327 $10,459 43
Mcleod Loris Hospital Loris $13,707 $11,034 37
Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia $12,447 $11,083 34
East Cooper Medical Center Mount Pleasant $12,197 $10,597 32
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center Myrtle Beach $14,610 $13,165 31
Regional Comparison

Knee Replacement Surgery Cost in Nearby States

South Carolina has the lowest knee replacement surgery costs in the region. Neighboring states all run higher — here's how they compare.

Common Questions

Expert Answers for South Carolina Patients

Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to South Carolina.

Compare South Carolina with any other state

See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main knee replacement surgery cost guide.

View full knee replacement surgery guide
What is the average price of knee replacement surgery in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, knee replacement surgery runs about $32,725 on average. Most patients pay between $18,700 and $46,750, with the final price shaped by your choice of surgeon, facility type, and procedure complexity.
Does insurance cover knee replacement surgery?
Yes — knee replacement surgery is generally covered by insurance in South Carolina when your doctor documents medical necessity. Expect to pay your deductible and copay, but the bulk of the $32,725 cost should be covered by your plan.
What's the recovery time for knee replacement surgery?
The recovery timeline for knee replacement surgery is 42 to 120 days. Here's the general pattern: days 1-42 involve significant rest, days 42-120 are a gradual return to activity. South Carolina patients should also budget for post-op care costs — follow-up visits, pain management, and any required imaging or lab work.
Are payment plans available for knee replacement surgery in South Carolina?
Many South Carolina 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 $32,725 cost into monthly installments.
What should I look for in a South Carolina knee replacement surgery provider?
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 South Carolina, check whether an outpatient surgery center can perform your knee replacement surgery — ASCs typically charge 30-50% less than hospitals for the same procedure.
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover knee replacement surgery?
Medicaid in South Carolina can cover knee replacement surgery when there's a documented medical need. The key is pre-authorization — your physician will need to submit clinical justification to your managed care organization before the procedure is approved.
Is knee replacement surgery eligible for HSA/FSA funds?
Yes — knee replacement surgery is generally eligible for HSA and FSA reimbursement when medically necessary. At $32,725 in South Carolina, using pre-tax dollars can save you 20-35% compared to paying with after-tax income. Keep all receipts and get an itemized bill from your provider.
Data Sources & References

How we calculate knee replacement surgery costs in South Carolina

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 WagesBLS 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 South Carolina'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 DataCMS 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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