Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comSwedish Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Seattle, WA 98122 · CMS Certification Number 500027. 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 Swedish Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $19,481 | $112,814 | 5.8× | $13,890 |
| Shoulder replacement | $24,404 | $97,826 | 4.0× | $19,686 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $21,409 | $114,051 | 5.3× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $52,682 | 2.7× | $21,974–$65,349 | 7 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premera Blue Cross | $65,349 | 3.4× | 1 |
| First Choice | $56,726 | 2.9× | 1 |
| Cigna | $53,505 | 2.7× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $52,682 | 2.7× | 1 |
| Providence Health Plan | $34,205 | 1.8× | 1 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $29,282 | 1.5× | 1 |
| Aetna | $21,974 | 1.1× | 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: 4.6% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 4.9%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 697 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Swedish Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Swedish Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $19,481 (MS-DRG 470, 64 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $13,890 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 790 cases).
What is Swedish Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $112,814, 5.8× 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 Swedish Medical Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Seattle Hand Surgery, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $9,864 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $9,617 less than an inpatient stay at Swedish Medical Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Swedish Medical Center compare with other Washington hospitals?
Swedish Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 88% of the 26 Washington hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Swedish Medical Center 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 $52,682 across 7 insurers, ranging from $21,974 to $65,349.