Knee arthroscopy, cartilage smoothing cost in Lexington, KY — inpatient
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, 1 hospital lists a cash price for knee arthroscopy with smoothing of damaged cartilage (chondroplasty) as an inpatient: from $733.48 to $733.48, with a median of $733.48. Across Kentucky, the median is $4,207.58 at 9 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 29877, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Feb 28, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington, KY · (859) 313-1000 HC PATELLA DEBRIDEMENT | $733.48 | $1,557.00 | $1,416.87 | 53% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $733.48, median $733.48, highest $733.48.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 5 facilities here, median $7,369.08 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated and below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
This code covers knee arthroscopy in which the surgeon smooths rough or loose cartilage.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the operating room, recovery and supplies. The surgeon and anesthesia usually bill separately.