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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

ACL Surgery Cost in California (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a acl surgery cost in California?

Where you have an acl surgery done in California swings the bill from $1,814 to $9,245 for identical care. The median cash price across 181 reporting hospitals is $4,833. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

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Where acl surgery costs vary in California

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a acl surgery depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest ACL Surgery Providers in California

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($4,833)
1 MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Laguna Hills, CA $1,669 $3,164 below
2 MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center Fountain Valley, CA $1,669 $3,164 below
3 Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Long Beach, CA $1,669 $3,164 below
4 KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - MORENO VALLEY Moreno Valley, CA $1,684 $3,149 below
5 KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - ORANGE COUNTY - ANAHEIM Anaheim, CA $1,684 $3,149 below
6 KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - ONTARIO Ontario, CA $1,684 $3,149 below
7 KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - PANORAMA CITY Panorama City, CA $1,684 $3,149 below
8 KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - BALDWIN PARK Baldwin Park, CA $1,684 $3,149 below

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost →  ·  When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →

Quick take

  • MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $1,669 - $3,164 below the median posted price ($4,833), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $5,532, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Ask whether this procedure can be done at a freestanding ambulatory surgical center - they're typically 30-60% cheaper than a hospital for identical care, and most aren't in this hospital-only dataset.
ACL Surgery prices by coverage in California, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$7,413 to $7,413$7,413
With insurance (commercial, average)150$6,353 to $27,033$14,446
Without insurance (cash price)178$1,684 to $10,614$5,532
Anthem Blue Cross97$3,016 to $19,406$9,771
Aetna74$2,501 to $24,558$11,636
Cigna57$3,031 to $23,015$7,693
UnitedHealthcare49$2,049 to $25,457$11,493

Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with Medicare in California?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for ACL Surgery is about $7,413 to $7,413 (typically near $7,413). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $1,483 on a $7,413 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with insurance in California?

Across 150 California hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ACL Surgery average $6,353 to $27,033 per hospital, with a median near $14,446. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.

Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost without insurance in California?

Cash (self-pay) prices for ACL Surgery at 178 California hospitals range from $1,684 to $10,614, with a median of $5,532. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.

Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with Anthem Blue Cross in California?

Anthem Blue Cross negotiated rates for ACL Surgery at 97 California hospitals range from $3,016 to $19,406, with a median near $9,771. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.

Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with Aetna in California?

Aetna negotiated rates for ACL Surgery at 74 California hospitals range from $2,501 to $24,558, with a median near $11,636. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with Cigna in California?

Cigna negotiated rates for ACL Surgery at 57 California hospitals range from $3,031 to $23,015, with a median near $7,693. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does an ACL Surgery cost with UnitedHealthcare in California?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ACL Surgery at 49 California hospitals range from $2,049 to $25,457, with a median near $11,493. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How where you go changes what you pay for acl surgery

The same acl surgery bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient
$1,486–$61,257
  • Facility fee $28–$57,369
  • Professional fee $1,458–$3,888

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$3,142–$33,843
  • Facility fee $1,684–$29,955
  • Professional fee $1,458–$3,888

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (8) report prices above $20,609, including St. Louise Regional Hospital at $29,955, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $4,833 versus $1,814 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Setting drives most of the spread here: an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) is usually meaningfully cheaper than a hospital operating room for the same procedure, when your case qualifies.

None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$4,833
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$967
Out-of-network provider $10,633+

Frequently asked questions: ACL Surgery costs in California

How much does an ACL Surgery cost in California?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $6,121, with most facilities between $926 and $8,633 (based on 181 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of California hospitals run $1,684–$10,614; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an ACL Surgery in California?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our California data is MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills at about $1,669. By metro, Sacramento has the lowest median ($1,814). Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an ACL Surgery so much cheaper at some California hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 9.3× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In California, the median cash (self-pay) price is $5,532 versus a median negotiated rate of $14,446 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for an ACL Surgery in California?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

Before you book

Other procedures in California

ACL Surgery, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in California

Bone, joint and pain

Imaging and scans

Heart and cardiac tests

Sleep and breathing tests

Scopes and screening

General surgery

Lab tests

Ear, nose and throat

Urology and women's health

Eye care

Infusions

Emergency care

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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