Ask Doctors About Alternative Facilities
A similar strategy can work with some types of surgery and other procedures, and you don’t have to switch doctors. Many surgeons work in several different facilities – such as a hospital and a stand-alone surgery center – and get paid the same amount no matter where they work. But the facility drives the cost, and the difference can be significant. The cost of arthroscopic knee surgery in Chicago ranges from $1,887 to $23,935, with a fair price of $6,425, according to Healthcare Bluebook. Check the facility’s price before you get care, and look up the fair price. If the facility is charging way too much, get back in touch with your doctor and ask about a lower-cost option that won’t reduce the quality of care.