According to the Statistical Bulletin of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, there were 103,000 total hip replacement procedures performed in the United States in 1997, at an average cost of $20,290.

The most expensive state in which to have the surgery was California, where the price was 52 percent above the national average. Pennsylvania was a bargain, with prices 29 percent below average.

So after you've checked the Statistical Bulletin, you might want to call the Auto Club for some road maps.