Applying for Free Total Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery: A Guide.
Founded in 2011, Operation Walk USA is an independent medical charity dedicated to serving the needs of uninsured patients in the United States who need hip or knee replacement surgery.
Total Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement
Approximately 790,000 total knee replacements and 544,000 hip replacements are performed in the United States each year. As the population ages, these numbers are growing. Total joint replacement is one of the safest and most reliable treatments in medicine. A hip or knee replacement can last 20 years or more.
About Operation Walk USA
The mission of Operation Walk USA is to encourage and assist joint replacement surgeons to restore mobility and improve the quality of life to uninsured hip or knee patients in the United States. Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, affecting approximately 48 million Americans, or more than 21 percent of the adult population. The pain caused by advanced hip or knee degenerative disease often makes work or even the simplest daily tasks extremely painful or impossible. Operation Walk America provides all aspects of treatment, including surgery, hospitalization, and pre- and post-operative care, free of charge to eligible patients.
Operation Walk USA Free Total Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement Eligibility
Please note that Operation Walk USA only provides hip and knee replacement surgery to adult patients (over 18 years of age); no other medical procedures are currently offered.
In order to be considered, potential patients must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders), uninsured, and have an income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.
So why participate in a national program like Operation Walk USA?
Until recently, it was unclear whether or not the countless acts of charity performed by orthopedic surgeons each year, especially free surgeries, would be recognized. Occasionally, a television or newspaper reporter would report on a special case in the community. But this "good news" was often overshadowed by reports of rising health care costs, waste in the health care system, or medical errors. The power of Operation Walk USA lies in numbers. Hundreds of doctors simultaneously perform pro bono surgeries across the country, creating a national story that is both inspiring and fascinating.
In summary, Operation Walk USA:
Highlights the value of orthopedics in improving patients' lives.
Highlights the compassionate, caring nature of the specialty and the orthopedic surgeons who participate.
Promotes the hospital's mission to heal.
Most importantly, it gives hundreds of underserved patients hope for better, more productive, pain-free lives.
How to Participate
Review, understand, and share Operation Walk USA’s 2024 General Participation Guidelines.
Discuss your hospital’s participation with all relevant stakeholders. Understand the commitments expected of each participating hospital.
Register through Operation Walk USA’s online registration system.
Follow the guidelines and meet the important deadlines set forth therein.
Communicate your process with Operation Walk USA staff.