Cost of a Knee Replacement Surgery Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's healthcare costs run approximately 18% above the national average, reflecting the state's high cost of living and concentrated provider markets. Knee Replacement Surgery costs typically range widely based on facility type and geographic location, with many active providers across the state's diverse metropolitan and rural regions. Patients can browse all available Knee Replacement Surgery providers in California to compare costs and find the most suitable option for their needs.
Average
$1,863
Median
$2,228
Lowest
$75
Highest
$3,286
Providers
3,142
18% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee replacement compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endometrial Ablation Cost of endometrial ablation procedures including NovaSure (hysteroscopic), thermal balloon, and cryoablation, with state-by-state pricing. | 58563 | $245 | $1,904 | $6,978 | 778 |
| Chin Liposuction Cost of chin (submental) liposuction across the US, with state-by-state pricing for both office-based and ambulatory surgery center settings. | 15876 | $304 | $510 | $972 | 39 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $2,021 | $3,012 | 3,930 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $1,210 | $1,401 | 2,015 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $80 | $80 | $8,767 | 4,867 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $75 | $1,094 | $1,714 | 6,358 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $933 | $1,375 | 7,138 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,135 | $2,758 | 1,473 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $80 | $820 | $2,160 | 897 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $80 | $265 | $705 | 1,717 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $423 | $975 | $1,216 | 2,424 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $961 | $1,972 | 1,786 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $80 | $261 | $1,930 | 2,261 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 27447 — Total knee arthroplasty). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 27447 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 27447 (Total knee arthroplasty), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 27447 covers: the provider's professional fee for knee replacement. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Top-Rated Hospitals in California
These hospitals in California are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
SANTA CRUZ, CA
IRVINE, CA
FRESNO, CA
MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
TRUCKEE, CA
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Knee Replacement Surgery Visit Costs Vary Across California
California's healthcare costs run approximately 18% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living, expensive real estate, and concentrated provider markets in major metropolitan areas. The Golden State's vast geographic diversity creates stark cost disparities between urban centers like San Francisco and Los Angeles versus rural Central Valley and mountain regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
California's major metropolitan areas like the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego feature high concentrations of orthopedic surgeons and state-of-the-art surgical facilities, while rural counties in the Central Valley and northern regions face significant provider shortages. This geographic disparity forces many rural patients to travel long distances for specialized knee replacement surgery, potentially adding travel and lodging costs. Urban areas typically offer more competitive pricing due to provider density, while rural facilities may charge premium rates due to limited competition.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
California's dominant health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Dignity Health operate numerous hospital-based outpatient centers with higher overhead costs reflected in pricing. Independent orthopedic practices and ambulatory surgery centers often provide more competitive rates for knee replacement procedures. The state's stringent regulatory environment and high real estate costs contribute to elevated facility expenses across all provider types.
Insurance Market Competition in California
Major insurers Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare dominate California's market, with Kaiser's integrated model creating unique pricing dynamics for its members. Competitive metropolitan markets like Los Angeles and San Francisco typically see better negotiated rates between insurers and providers compared to rural areas with limited insurer participation. The state's insurance exchange marketplace provides additional competition in individual markets, though employer-sponsored plans remain predominant.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
California maintains a robust supply of orthopedic surgeons with over 3,000 providers reporting Knee Replacement Surgery rates, indicating healthy competition that can help moderate pricing in major markets. However, subspecialty fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeons remain concentrated in academic medical centers and urban areas, creating access challenges in rural regions. High surgeon supply in metropolitan areas typically correlates with more competitive pricing and shorter wait times for non-urgent procedures.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Knee Replacement Surgery Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Knee Replacement Surgery visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Knee Replacement Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Replacement Surgery near me in California?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee Replacement Surgery visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Replacement Surgery in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 27447)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $10,559 | $4,785 |
| 2 | Rhode Island Range: $1,136 – $6,051 | $3,170 |
| 3 | Alaska Range: $1,136 – $6,451 | $3,152 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Range: $1,061 – $6,051 | $3,102 |
| 5 | Connecticut Range: $909 – $6,051 | $2,917 |
| 6 | Delaware Range: $1,005 – $6,051 | $2,914 |
| 7 | Montana Range: $92 – $6,877 | $2,879 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania Range: $909 – $6,051 | $2,837 |
| 9 | Wyoming Range: $1,657 – $4,492 | $2,807 |
| 10 | South Dakota Range: $1,099 – $5,330 | $2,798 |
| 11 | Georgia Range: $1,131 – $5,082 | $2,783 |
| 12 | New York Range: $898 – $6,051 | $2,746 |
| 13 | Minnesota Range: $873 – $5,078 | $2,705 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $1,433 – $4,078 | $2,650 |
| 15 | Iowa Range: $95 – $4,753 | $2,594 |
| 16 | West Virginia Range: $1,204 – $4,734 | $2,556 |
| 17 | Nebraska Range: $1,637 – $3,009 | $2,527 |
| 18 | Washington Range: $1,606 – $3,703 | $2,474 |
| 19 | New Jersey Range: $952 – $4,588 | $2,321 |
| 20 | New Mexico Range: $1,216 – $3,606 | $2,318 |
| 21 | North Carolina Range: $1,136 – $3,785 | $2,311 |
| 22 | Maine Range: $1,713 – $2,689 | $2,297 |
| 23 | Oregon Range: $1,116 – $3,635 | $2,288 |
| 24 | District of Columbia Range: $1,061 – $3,475 | $2,286 |
| 25 | Colorado Range: $1,136 – $3,475 | $2,220 |
| 26 | North Dakota Range: $1,198 – $3,475 | $2,189 |
| 27 | Utah Range: $842 – $2,906 | $2,184 |
| 28 | Kentucky Range: $977 – $3,564 | $2,126 |
| 29 | Michigan Range: $1,136 – $3,355 | $2,121 |
| 30 | Maryland Range: $1,204 – $3,475 | $2,015 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $1,061 – $3,049 | $2,001 |
| 32 | Indiana Range: $90 – $4,087 | $1,966 |
| 33 | Hawaii Range: $1,018 – $2,946 | $1,953 |
| 34 | Vermont Range: $958 – $3,286 | $1,900 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $1,060 – $3,108 | $1,898 |
| 36 | Mississippi Range: $1,039 – $3,303 | $1,895 |
| 37 | Illinois Range: $85 – $3,789 | $1,884 |
| 38 | Arkansas Range: $1,138 – $2,603 | $1,878 |
| 39 | Texas Range: $1,056 – $3,006 | $1,877 |
| 40 | California Range: $75 – $3,286 | $1,863 |
| 41 | Nevada Range: $1,136 – $2,632 | $1,853 |
| 42 | Alabama Range: $964 – $2,946 | $1,845 |
| 43 | Tennessee Range: $1,147 – $2,647 | $1,843 |
| 44 | Missouri Range: $1,272 – $2,246 | $1,811 |
| 45 | Virginia Range: $976 – $2,946 | $1,798 |
| 46 | Louisiana Range: $989 – $2,664 | $1,757 |
| 47 | Kansas Range: $1,272 – $2,223 | $1,698 |
| 48 | Ohio Range: $848 – $2,491 | $1,603 |
| 49 | Arizona Range: $1,097 – $2,276 | $1,503 |
| 50 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $2,533 | $1,311 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $2,438 | $843 |