Knee and hip steroid injections: will the NHS or your insurer pay?
General information only. Not medical, insurance or legal advice. Coverage rules and prices change, so confirm with your insurer or public health service (such as the NHS, HSE or Medicare) before booking, and ask your doctor whether a procedure is right for you.
What it is
A steroid (corticosteroid) injection into the knee or hip joint aims to reduce pain and swelling from arthritis for a few weeks or months. Knee injections are often given in a clinic or surgery, sometimes with ultrasound guidance. Hip injections are usually given with X-ray or ultrasound guidance because the joint is deep.
Who pays, at a glance
| Route | Usually | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NHS (England) | Can be offered for osteoarthritis when other medicines don’t work, or to support exercise | On the NHS |
| UK private insurance | Some insurers fund joint injections; repeat injections to manage long-term arthritis may be refused | UK private insurance |
| Self-pay (UK) | About £145 to £2,338, depending on what is included and whether X-ray guidance is used | Self-pay prices |
| Ireland | Irish Life Health lists major joint injection without pre-approval; 20% tax relief | Ireland |
What national guidance says
NICE says to consider steroid injections into the joint when other pain medicines are ineffective or unsuitable, or to support therapeutic exercise, and to explain that they only give short-term relief (2 to 10 weeks). NICE says not to offer hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) injections for osteoarthritis. It says platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for knee osteoarthritis should only be used with special arrangements for consent and audit or research.
Related procedures
- Hip and knee replacement: will it be covered?
- Shockwave therapy: will it be covered?
- All procedures and guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a knee steroid injection on the NHS?
Yes, it can be offered for osteoarthritis when other treatments haven’t worked or to support exercise. NICE says relief is short-term.
Is hyaluronic acid available on the NHS?
No. NICE says not to offer hyaluronan injections for osteoarthritis.
How much does a private knee injection cost?
Published prices range from about £320 at a London injection clinic (ultrasound-guided, all-inclusive) to over £2,000 for a hospital package with X-ray guidance.
What usually comes first
NICE recommends therapeutic exercise for everyone with osteoarthritis, and says steroid injections can be considered to support exercise. Relief from an injection is short-term, so the exercise plan matters most.
- 6-week knee arthritis exercise programme
- NHS knee exercises for pain relief (video)
- Hip exercises for arthritis (video)
- Free printable knee arthritis exercise sheet
- Free printable hip arthritis exercise sheet
A physiotherapist can tailor an exercise plan to you.
Sources
- NICE guideline NG226: Osteoarthritis in over 16s, recommendations 1.4.9 and 1.4.10
- NICE HTG497 (formerly IPG637): Platelet-rich plasma injections for knee osteoarthritis
- NHS: Osteoarthritis treatment
- Complete Injections (London): Ultrasound-guided injection pricing
- Spire Portsmouth Hospital: Joint injections (self-pay guide prices)
- Irish Life Health: Schedule of benefits for professional fees, pain medicine (2024)
Last checked October 2026. Found something out of date? Email hello@protocolarchive.com.
This page explains how coverage usually works, using public NHS, insurer, ombudsman and government sources listed above. It is general information, not medical, insurance, financial or legal advice, and it does not recommend any treatment, policy or provider. Rules differ by area and by policy and can change, so confirm with your GP, your insurer or the hospital before you decide. Protocol Archive is independent and is not affiliated with the NHS, the HSE or any insurer.