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Knee Arthroscopy, One Meniscus Trimmed

California rates for HCPCS 29881

This knee arthroscopy trims torn or damaged cartilage from one cushioning pad of the knee, either the inner or outer meniscus, using a camera and small instruments passed through tiny incisions. Removing the torn tissue relieves catching, locking, swelling, or pain that a meniscus tear can cause. It is the more limited counterpart to a related procedure that addresses both sides of the knee in one operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Knee Arthroscopy, One Meniscus Trimmed cost?

$9,654

Typical total for the visit. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9,654 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $741 to the doctor who performs it, and $8,913 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 14 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$741$550 to $1,288
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$8,913$6,310 to $12,882

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8,913 · 10th to 90th $3,236 to $17,783Professionalmedian $741 · 10th to 90th $195 to $2,692
$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $8,913professional $741

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$8,128.31
Typical High
$19,498.45
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$8,912.51
Median
$8,912.51
Typical High
$8,912.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$2,691.53
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$10,471.29
Typical High
$17,782.79
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,905.46
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$12,302.69
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$1,148.15
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$5,011.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,479.11
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$831.76
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,230.27
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9,332.54
Median
$33,884.42
Typical High
$33,884.42
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$933.25
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,495.41
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$5,495.41
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$794.33
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$70.79
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,288.25
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,445.44
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4,897.79
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$4,897.79
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$1,778.28
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$933.25
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,248.07
Median
$9,332.54
Typical High
$20,417.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,412.54

Where California sits

The same service costs 8.7 times more in Wyoming than in Montana. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility feeCalifornia $9,654 · 5th of 51
WY $15,389MT $1,772

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.