Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in Alabama
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alabama's healthcare landscape features concentrated provider networks primarily in Birmingham and Mobile, with significant rural access gaps affecting surgical care availability. Patients seeking a laparoscopic appendectomy typically pay between $80 and $1,208, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $672. Alabama maintains over 2,600 active appendectomy providers across the state, offering patients multiple options for surgical care in both urban centers and regional hospitals.
Average
$653
Median
$672
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,208
Providers
2,672
24% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in Alabama?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $964 | $1,625 | $2,946 | 2,353 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,512 | $2,767 | 2,636 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $418 | $688 | $1,195 | 2,384 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $382 | $619 | $1,165 | 2,356 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $450 | $822 | $1,450 | 2,367 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $608 | $1,138 | $1,856 | 2,372 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $433 | $687 | $1,315 | 2,358 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $195 | $351 | $615 | 2,367 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $356 | $598 | $1,111 | 2,352 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $366 | $652 | $1,251 | 2,366 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $294 | $566 | $910 | 2,356 |
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 44970 — Laparoscopic appendectomy). 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 44970 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 44970 (Laparoscopic appendectomy), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 44970 covers: the provider's professional fee for appendectomy (laparoscopic). 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 Alabama
These hospitals in Alabama are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
FAYETTE, AL
DADEVILLE, AL
PHENIX CITY, AL
BIRMINGHAM, AL
TROY, AL
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Appendectomy Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama
Alabama's appendectomy costs run approximately 8% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall healthcare costs and concentrated insurance market. The state's rural geography creates significant cost and access disparities between urban medical centers and smaller community hospitals.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Major Alabama cities like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville offer multiple surgical options with competitive pricing due to provider density and case volume. Rural areas often have only one local hospital with surgical capabilities, leading to higher costs and longer wait times for non-emergency procedures. Many rural Alabama residents travel to urban centers for surgical care, adding transportation costs but potentially saving on procedure fees.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like UAB Medicine, Baptist Health, and Huntsville Hospital dominate Alabama's surgical landscape, with higher facility fees but often better negotiated insurance rates. Independent ambulatory surgery centers offer lower overhead costs for outpatient procedures, though their geographic distribution is limited primarily to metropolitan areas. Hospital-based surgical services in Alabama typically charge 40-60% more than freestanding surgical centers for the same procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Alabama
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama's market dominance means less insurer competition but more standardized pricing across providers statewide. Limited insurance competition reduces negotiating pressure on surgical fees, though it also creates more predictable cost structures for patients. The concentrated market makes network participation decisions particularly important for Alabama surgical practices.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama
With over 2,600 active appendectomy providers statewide, Alabama maintains adequate surgical capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic imbalance creates cost disparities, with rural facilities able to charge premium rates due to limited local competition. Urban areas benefit from resident training programs at UAB and other teaching hospitals, which can offer lower-cost care options for qualifying patients.
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 — Appendectomy Costs in Alabama
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in Alabama without insurance?
Does Alabama Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in Alabama?
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 Appendectomy visit in Alabama?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in Alabama?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 44970)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $5,429 | $2,206 |
| 2 | Iowa Range: $85 – $2,810 | $1,400 |
| 3 | Wyoming Range: $631 – $1,894 | $1,180 |
| 4 | New Hampshire Range: $558 – $1,752 | $1,147 |
| 5 | Nebraska Range: $726 – $1,396 | $1,142 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Range: $80 – $2,485 | $1,133 |
| 7 | South Dakota Range: $85 – $2,418 | $1,127 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $85 – $2,038 | $1,033 |
| 9 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $2,095 | $1,024 |
| 10 | Maine Range: $682 – $1,177 | $1,001 |
| 11 | Michigan Range: $80 – $2,021 | $978 |
| 12 | District of Columbia Range: $413 – $1,405 | $945 |
| 13 | New Mexico Range: $507 – $1,408 | $933 |
| 14 | Connecticut Range: $361 – $1,590 | $908 |
| 15 | Rhode Island Range: $80 – $1,752 | $905 |
| 16 | Washington Range: $80 – $1,832 | $902 |
| 17 | Missouri Range: $551 – $1,185 | $901 |
| 18 | North Dakota Range: $80 – $1,767 | $882 |
| 19 | New York Range: $412 – $1,655 | $882 |
| 20 | Indiana Range: $80 – $1,805 | $881 |
| 21 | Illinois Range: $85 – $1,654 | $865 |
| 22 | Delaware Range: $80 – $1,893 | $865 |
| 23 | Vermont Range: $449 – $1,463 | $865 |
| 24 | New Jersey Range: $340 – $1,669 | $852 |
| 25 | North Carolina Range: $80 – $1,655 | $837 |
| 26 | Mississippi Range: $473 – $1,440 | $827 |
| 27 | Oregon Range: $80 – $1,616 | $814 |
| 28 | West Virginia Range: $85 – $1,557 | $799 |
| 29 | California Range: $80 – $1,375 | $796 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania Range: $80 – $1,669 | $794 |
| 31 | Utah Range: $80 – $1,321 | $792 |
| 32 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $1,376 | $767 |
| 33 | Kansas Range: $562 – $1,006 | $767 |
| 34 | Louisiana Range: $368 – $1,236 | $766 |
| 35 | Colorado Range: $85 – $1,421 | $765 |
| 36 | Kentucky Range: $85 – $1,415 | $758 |
| 37 | Virginia Range: $404 – $1,238 | $755 |
| 38 | Maryland Range: $437 – $1,238 | $750 |
| 39 | Ohio Range: $355 – $1,185 | $733 |
| 40 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $1,236 | $720 |
| 41 | Idaho Range: $80 – $1,349 | $716 |
| 42 | Tennessee Range: $90 – $1,258 | $699 |
| 43 | Nevada Range: $464 – $983 | $673 |
| 44 | South Carolina Range: $80 – $1,290 | $667 |
| 45 | Alabama Range: $80 – $1,208 | $653 |
| 46 | Texas Range: $85 – $1,155 | $634 |
| 47 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $1,142 | $588 |
| 48 | Arizona Range: $90 – $1,016 | $538 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $1,339 | $500 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $1,231 | $464 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $1,065 | $385 |