Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comUnc Hospitals: what a joint replacement costs
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · CMS Certification Number 340061. What Medicare pays this hospital for knee, hip and shoulder replacement, what it lists, how it compares, and what a surgery center nearby is paid.
Medicare prices at Unc Hospitals
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $23,765 | $57,990 | 2.4× | $11,386 |
| Shoulder replacement | $50,140 | $100,301 | 2.0× | $16,981 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $27,540 | $64,184 | 2.3× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $26,331 | 1.1× | $12,174–$37,947 | 8 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $37,947 | 1.6× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $34,639 | 1.5× | 1 |
| Cigna | $27,585 | 1.2× | 1 |
| Nalc Health Benefit Plan | $27,585 | 1.2× | 1 |
| Contigo | $25,077 | 1.1× | 1 |
| First Carolina Care | $23,780 | 1.0× | 1 |
| BCBS NC | $20,462 | 0.9× | 1 |
| Alignment | $12,174 | 0.5× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 4.6%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 724 beds
North Carolina requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Unc Hospitals for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Unc Hospitals for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $23,765 (MS-DRG 470, 51 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,386 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 101 cases).
What is Unc Hospitals's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $57,990, 2.4× the average total payment for a Medicare stay. Almost nobody pays the list price; it matters for uninsured bills and percent-of-charge contracts.
Is a knee replacement cheaper at a surgery center near Unc Hospitals?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Southpoint Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 8.7 mi away, is paid about $8,842 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $14,923 less than an inpatient stay at Unc Hospitals. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Unc Hospitals compare with other North Carolina hospitals?
Unc Hospitals's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 100% of the 41 North Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Unc Hospitals for a hip or knee replacement?
From the hospital's own price-transparency file, commercial plans' negotiated rates for MS-DRG 470 have a median of $26,331 across 8 insurers, ranging from $12,174 to $37,947.