Few decisions in life are more important than those having to do with health care. Yet, medical decisions are often the most complicated—especially when facing a significant treatment or procedure. Simply seeking out a diagnosis can be challenging enough, but that’s only the first step in a process that can be fraught with worry and uncertainty. That’s why Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) recently launched a new hip and knee replacement benefit option called PERACare Select, which is available to its PERACare Anthem Pre-Medicare participants.

According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, more than seven million people in the U.S. are living with a hip or knee replacement, and this number is expected to increase greatly as the population ages. Put another way, 2.3 percent and 4.6 percent of adults age 50 or older have an artificial hip or knee, respectively. With so many people relying on these procedures for their health and well-being, it’s critical the care be accessible and affordable.

The process for getting a hip or knee replacement is hardly straightforward, even though the procedures themselves are quite common. Many patients feel confused and overwhelmed by vast inconsistencies in price and quality of care resulting from choice of doctor, facility, and geographical location.

For example, when seeking out a hip or knee replacement, Colorado patients may encounter a price variation of $40,000 across the state. What’s more, there’s no correlation between price and quality, so one patient could potentially pay thousands of dollars more than another patient for the same procedure—with no better outcome or experience. This unpredictability makes it impossible for patients to plan for the future or make informed decisions about their health.

Recognizing the need for reliable health care at a fair and predictable cost, PERA created PERACare Select as a solution to cost and quality confusion. By contracting with a select group of doctors and facilities, PERA is able to provide its members with a full suite of services related to a hip or knee replacement with no out-of-pocket cost for HMO and PPO members, and no coinsurance for HDHP members. Under this program, costs of services typically billed separately like anesthesiology, X-rays, and nursing assistance, are included in one fixed price for the total procedure. This cost predictability means patients can feel confident they’ll have access to the comprehensive health services they need.

PERACare Select ensures patients can afford their hip and knee replacement surgery and receive consistently high quality care. By working with qualified, experienced surgeons at local HealthONE health care facilities, PERA is cracking the code on cost confusion and taking the guesswork out of choosing a reliable health care provider.

Colorado’s school teachers, snowplow drivers, state patrol, and other public employees spend their careers taking care of the public—and PERA works for them to ensure they have a healthy, stable, and secure quality of life in retirement. In overcoming cost and quality disparities, PERA’s model of health care helps not only its retirees, but all Colorado families.

PERACare Select is available now to PERACare Anthem Pre-Medicare participants. Visit the PERACare Select website for more information.