Cost of a Carpal Tunnel Surgery Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's integrated health systems like Kaiser Permanente handle over 12 million members, creating unique pricing structures for specialized procedures across the state. For Carpal Tunnel Surgery in California, patients typically pay between $80 and $1,930, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $261 based on negotiated insurance rates. California maintains over 2,260 active providers performing carpal tunnel procedures, offering patients extensive options from San Diego to Sacramento.
Average
$757
Median
$261
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,930
Providers
2,261
0% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does carpal tunnel surgery 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 |
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $75 | $2,228 | $3,286 | 3,142 |
| 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 |
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 64721 — Neuroplasty and/or transposition; median nerve at carpal tunnel). 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 64721 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 64721 (Neuroplasty and/or transposition; median nerve at carpal tunnel), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 64721 covers: the provider's professional fee for carpal tunnel surgery. 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 Carpal Tunnel Surgery Visit Costs Vary Across California
California's healthcare costs run approximately 18% above the national average, driven by high real estate costs, strict regulatory requirements, and elevated labor expenses for medical professionals. The state's diverse geography creates stark cost variations between affluent coastal regions and underserved inland areas.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Metro areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco have dozens of carpal tunnel surgeons within a 20-mile radius, while rural counties in the Central Valley may have only one or two specialists serving populations of 100,000+. This supply imbalance drives higher costs in underserved regions due to limited competition and increased travel requirements. Patients in Modesto or Stockton often travel to Sacramento or San Francisco for specialized care.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
California's major health systems like Sutter Health, Dignity Health, and Providence operate extensive networks of hospital-based outpatient centers with higher overhead than independent surgery centers. Academic medical centers such as UCSF and UCLA typically charge premium rates due to their teaching hospital status and research missions. Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers often provide the most cost-effective option for routine carpal tunnel procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in California
The dominance of Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare creates varying levels of competition across California regions, with Kaiser's integrated model particularly strong in Northern California. Covered California's marketplace offers multiple options in most counties, though rural areas may have limited insurer choices. Kaiser's negotiated rates often differ significantly from traditional fee-for-service insurers due to their employed physician model.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With over 2,260 providers performing carpal tunnel procedures statewide, California has relatively robust specialist availability compared to national averages. However, distribution is heavily weighted toward coastal metropolitan areas, creating access challenges in the Central Valley and far northern counties. High demand from an aging population and tech workers with repetitive strain injuries keeps wait times elevated in Silicon Valley and other urban centers.
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 — Carpal Tunnel Surgery Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Carpal Tunnel Surgery visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Carpal Tunnel Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Carpal Tunnel 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 Carpal Tunnel Surgery visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Carpal Tunnel Surgery in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 64721)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $85 – $5,357 | $2,063 |
| 2 | North Dakota Range: $319 – $2,591 | $1,168 |
| 3 | Rhode Island Range: $364 – $1,957 | $1,066 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Range: $338 – $1,957 | $1,005 |
| 5 | Minnesota Range: $358 – $1,930 | $1,003 |
| 6 | Delaware Range: $354 – $1,957 | $974 |
| 7 | Georgia Range: $344 – $1,930 | $973 |
| 8 | West Virginia Range: $342 – $2,006 | $972 |
| 9 | New York Range: $320 – $1,963 | $969 |
| 10 | New Jersey Range: $265 – $2,119 | $968 |
| 11 | Connecticut Range: $311 – $1,957 | $962 |
| 12 | Alaska Range: $364 – $1,957 | $961 |
| 13 | Kentucky Range: $340 – $1,957 | $954 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania Range: $317 – $1,957 | $937 |
| 15 | District of Columbia Range: $328 – $1,686 | $917 |
| 16 | Oregon Range: $90 – $1,930 | $888 |
| 17 | Wyoming Range: $519 – $1,358 | $865 |
| 18 | Nebraska Range: $513 – $1,068 | $840 |
| 19 | New Hampshire Range: $429 – $1,267 | $838 |
| 20 | Washington Range: $490 – $1,221 | $793 |
| 21 | Iowa Range: $361 – $1,068 | $787 |
| 22 | California Range: $80 – $1,930 | $757 |
| 23 | Maine Range: $519 – $888 | $753 |
| 24 | Utah Range: $265 – $988 | $728 |
| 25 | North Carolina Range: $349 – $1,241 | $727 |
| 26 | Colorado Range: $364 – $1,110 | $701 |
| 27 | New Mexico Range: $385 – $1,031 | $683 |
| 28 | Illinois Range: $372 – $1,070 | $679 |
| 29 | Hawaii Range: $358 – $1,040 | $667 |
| 30 | South Dakota Range: $296 – $1,068 | $662 |
| 31 | Indiana Range: $291 – $1,070 | $640 |
| 32 | Vermont Range: $338 – $1,053 | $637 |
| 33 | Michigan Range: $359 – $1,068 | $628 |
| 34 | South Carolina Range: $334 – $1,030 | $610 |
| 35 | Louisiana Range: $294 – $979 | $593 |
| 36 | Alabama Range: $294 – $910 | $590 |
| 37 | Missouri Range: $402 – $726 | $581 |
| 38 | Idaho Range: $90 – $1,031 | $567 |
| 39 | Virginia Range: $309 – $920 | $564 |
| 40 | Arkansas Range: $294 – $790 | $560 |
| 41 | Maryland Range: $318 – $920 | $552 |
| 42 | Tennessee Range: $332 – $804 | $546 |
| 43 | Oklahoma Range: $345 – $823 | $531 |
| 44 | Kansas Range: $402 – $670 | $526 |
| 45 | Mississippi Range: $332 – $826 | $520 |
| 46 | Montana Range: $90 – $979 | $513 |
| 47 | Nevada Range: $352 – $746 | $512 |
| 48 | Ohio Range: $268 – $797 | $506 |
| 49 | Texas Range: $90 – $895 | $484 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $352 – $729 | $482 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $733 | $274 |