Total knee replacement at a Class A hospital in China runs USD 9,500–14,000 all-in with international-brand implants. Here is the line-by-line breakdown of what international patients actually pay.
For an international patient at a Class A international medical department in China, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with an international-brand implant (Zimmer, Stryker, DePuy) typically costs USD 9,500–14,000 all-in . This compares to:
The Short Answer
For an international patient at a Class A international medical department in China, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with an international-brand implant (Zimmer, Stryker, DePuy) typically costs USD 9,500–14,000 all-in. This compares to:
- USD 35,000–60,000 US private rate
- USD 15,000–22,000 UK private
- USD 22,000–32,000 Australia private
- USD 11,000–17,000 Thailand
What's Included in the Chinese All-In Price
The price you see on a Class A international department quote is genuinely all-in for inpatient care:
- Pre-op workup (CBC, coagulation, ECG, dental clearance, anaesthesia review, imaging review)
- Anaesthesia and 5–7 day inpatient admission
- International-brand cemented prosthesis (Zimmer Persona / NexGen, Stryker Triathlon, DePuy Attune)
- Inpatient physiotherapy initiation
- Same-day translated discharge documentation
- 12-month structured telehealth follow-up coordinated by the international department
- Coordinator and interpreter coverage end-to-end
Excluded: international airfare, accommodation outside hospital (typically USD 70–180/night for partner hotels), home-country physiotherapy after discharge, M-visa application fees.
Tier-1 vs Tier-2 City Differential
For routine TKA, tier-2 academic Class A centres deliver outcomes comparable to tier-1 at lower city-level pricing:
- Tier-1 (Beijing, Shanghai) — PUMC, PKU Third, Shanghai Sixth: USD 11,500–14,000
- Tier-2 (Chengdu, Hangzhou) — West China Hospital, Sir Run Run Shaw: USD 9,500–12,000
The differential reflects facility / labour costs, not surgical quality. For complex revision arthroplasty or simultaneous bilateral TKA, tier-1 access is more meaningful.
Bilateral Simultaneous
Bilateral simultaneous TKA — both knees in a single anaesthetic — is suitable for selected patients with no cardiopulmonary contraindication and good baseline fitness. Cost is typically USD 14,500–19,500 all-in, far more economical than two separate trips.
Insurance and Direct Billing
Major international insurers (Cigna Global, Bupa Global, GeoBlue, AXA, Allianz Worldwide) maintain direct-billing relationships with Class A international departments. Pre-authorisation typically completes in 5–10 business days; without it, claims may be denied even at in-network hospitals.
How to Decide if You're a Surgical Candidate
Take our free KOOS-PS knee function self-test. ODI ≥ 40% (functional disability) plus radiographically advanced osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence 3–4) and adequate trial of conservative care is the typical surgical-eligibility profile. For procedure detail, see our knee replacement page.
Sources: Partner-network 2026 pricing data; AAOS appropriate use criteria; published US, UK, AU private-rate comparisons.