Last updated 14 October 2026

Hip and Knee Replacement Abroad from Canada: Poland, Costs and What Your Province Covers (2026)

Canadians who do not want to wait for a hip or knee replacement can have it at a private hospital in Poland. At our partner hospital in Jelenia Góra a knee replacement costs from €8,620 (about CA$13,800) and a hip replacement from €6,940 (about CA$11,110), including 3 nights on the ward and up to 7 physiotherapy sessions. Provincial health plans generally do not pay for elective surgery abroad because of a wait, so you pay yourself; the cost may count towards the federal medical expense tax credit. Toronto has direct flights to Warsaw.

By OrthoVoyage Editorial TeamMedically reviewed by: —Published 14 October 2026

Key facts

Partner hospital in Jelenia Góra, Poland: knee replacement from €8,620 (about CA$13,800), hip replacement from €6,940 (about CA$11,110). Prices are in euros; CA$ figures are approximate at €1 = CA$1.60.
Only 69% of hip replacements and 63% of knee replacements in Canada were done within the 26-week benchmark between April and September 2025 (CIHI, June 2026).
Physicians reported a median wait of 48.6 weeks for orthopaedic surgery from GP referral to treatment in 2025 (Fraser Institute).
Provincial plans pay for elective care abroad only with written prior approval, and the criteria are that the treatment is not available in Canada (or a delay would cause death or irreversible harm). Alberta states a waitlist alone is not a valid reason.
The CRA says eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada, so the hospital bill may count towards the medical expense tax credit.
LOT flies direct from Toronto to Warsaw (about 8 h 35 min, around 9 flights a week), then about an hour on to Wrocław.

Checked 14 October 2026

What it costs

Operation	Partner hospital, Poland	Approx. in CA$
Hip replacement, total, cemented	from €6,940	about CA$11,110
Hip replacement, ceramic	from €7,990	about CA$12,790
Knee replacement, total, cemented	from €8,620	about CA$13,800
Knee replacement, partial	from €7,570	about CA$12,120
Shoulder replacement	from €10,190	about CA$16,310
ACL reconstruction	€4,630	about CA$7,410
Knee arthroscopy	from €2,900	about CA$4,640

The hospital bills in euros. Canadian dollar figures use €1 = CA$1.60 (the European Central Bank rate on 14 October 2026 was 1.5918) and move with the exchange rate. Joint replacement prices include pre-operative diagnostics, general anaesthesia, the implant, 3 nights on the ward and up to 7 physiotherapy sessions. Flights and hotel are extra.

For comparison, CBC reported private hip or knee replacements in Canada at $20,000 to $28,000 in 2023, and in 2025 a patient who paid $30,000 for a knee at a private clinic. See private hip and knee replacement cost in Canada.

Will my province pay?

Generally not for a hip or knee replacement chosen because of a wait. Every province requires written prior approval for elective care outside Canada, applied for by your doctor, and the test is that the treatment is not available in Canada, or (in Ontario and B.C.) that a delay would cause death or medically significant irreversible harm. Alberta states that waitlists in Canada are not on their own a valid reason. Québec does not pay its hospital per-diem for planned care abroad. Without prior approval, you pay all costs.

What can help is tax: the CRA's general rule is that eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada. Details in will my province pay for surgery abroad?.

Getting there and getting home

Toronto: LOT Polish Airlines flies direct to Warsaw, about 8 hours 35 minutes, around 9 flights a week. From Warsaw, LOT flies to Wrocław in about an hour.
Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary and elsewhere: no direct flights to Poland. Connect through Toronto or a European hub to Warsaw or Wrocław.
From Wrocław our partner hospital in Jelenia Góra is roughly 100–115 km, about an hour and a half by road. Your coordinator arranges the transfer.

A long-haul flight after joint replacement needs planning. When you are fit to fly, and how long you should stay in Poland before the journey, depend on your operation and your recovery, so your surgeon decides, before you book flights home. Blood-clot prevention starts straight after surgery, and you fly home with your medical records in English for your family doctor.

How it works

Free assessment. Tell us about your joint and send any X-rays or reports you have.
Review and written plan. The hospital's orthopaedic team reviews your case. Your plan names the hospital, the surgeon, the implant and the price before you pay anything.
Booking. You pay a deposit directly to the hospital; OrthoVoyage adds no fee to your invoice.
Surgery and recovery in Jelenia Góra, with an English-speaking coordinator.
Home. You fly home with your medical records in English and a rehabilitation plan; your coordinator stays in touch.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a knee replacement in Poland in Canadian dollars?

At our partner hospital in Jelenia Góra a total knee replacement costs from €8,620, about CA$13,800 at €1 = CA$1.60, including 3 nights on the ward and up to 7 physiotherapy sessions. Flights and hotel are extra.

Will OHIP pay for a hip replacement in Poland?

Generally not. OHIP pays for elective care outside Canada only with written prior approval, applied for by your doctor, when the treatment is not performed in Ontario or a delay would result in death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage. Without prior approval you pay all costs.

Can I claim surgery abroad on my Canadian taxes?

Possibly. The CRA's general rule is that eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada or for services provided in Canada. Travel costs have their own conditions. Ask a tax professional about your situation.

Is there a direct flight from Canada to Poland?

Yes, from Toronto: LOT flies direct to Warsaw in about 8 hours 35 minutes. From other Canadian cities you connect, and from Warsaw it is about an hour by air to Wrocław, the nearest airport to our partner hospital.

How long will I need to stay in Poland?

Joint replacement includes 3 nights on the hospital ward. How long you stay after discharge before a long-haul flight depends on your operation and recovery, and your surgeon decides. Plan for a longer stay than a patient flying two hours to the UK would need.

Sources

Nova Scotia Health achieves high rankings in national surgical wait times report (CIHI data, April–September 2025) — Nova Scotia Health
Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2025 — Fraser Institute
Out-of-country OHIP covered services for physicians — Government of Ontario
Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1, Medical Expense Tax Credit — Canada Revenue Agency

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.

Patients tell it themselves

Recorded by our partner hospital with its international patients and shared with its permission. Both crossed an ocean for the same operation.

Second hip replacement
Came back to the same hospital in Poland to have his other hip replaced.
Hip replacement
On why he chose to travel to Poland, recorded before his operation.

Hip and Knee Replacement Wait Times in Canada by Province (2026)

Will My Province Pay for Hip or Knee Surgery Abroad? OHIP, MSP, Alberta and RAMQ Rules (2026)

Private Hip and Knee Replacement Cost in Canada vs Poland (2026)

Orthopaedic Surgery Prices in Poland: Full Price List in Euros and Pounds (2026)