Knee arthroscopy, cartilage smoothing cost in San Francisco, CA — inpatient
In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for knee arthroscopy with smoothing of damaged cartilage (chondroplasty) as an inpatient: from $10,018.40 to $10,018.40, with a median of $10,018.40. The lowest listed price is at Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco and 8 other hospitals. Across California, the median is $5,148.00 at 48 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 9 cities for code 29877, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco lowest San Francisco, CA · (415) 833-2646 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond lowest Oakland, CA · (510) 752-1000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek lowest Walnut Creek, CA · (925) 295-4000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont lowest Fremont, CA · (510) 784-4000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City lowest Redwood City, CA · (650) 299-2000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael lowest San Rafael, CA · (415) 444-2000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch lowest Antioch, CA · (925) 813-6500 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro lowest San Leandro, CA · (510) 454-1000 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco lowest South San Francisco, CA · (650) 742-3200 ARTHRS KNEE DEBRIDEMENT/SHAVING ARTCLR CRTLG | $10,018.40 | $17,890.00 | $3,921.00–$12,278.00 | 44% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $10,018.40, median $10,018.40, highest $10,018.40.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $10,018.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 9 of 9 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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.