Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in Alaska
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alaska's remote geography and limited healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for surgical care, with appendectomy procedures costing significantly more than the national average. Patients seeking laparoscopic appendectomy in Alaska typically pay between $80 and $1,339, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $80. With 374 active appendectomy providers across the state, patients can browse all qualified surgeons in Alaska to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.
Average
$500
Median
$80
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,339
Providers
374
42% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in Alaska?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $1,871 | $6,450 | 35 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,137 | $1,818 | $6,292 | 39 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $697 | $2,135 | 50 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $80 | $80 | $1,127 | 352 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $80 | $80 | $913 | 359 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,023 | $4,191 | 51 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $80 | $80 | $1,251 | 351 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $372 | $768 | 48 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $440 | $684 | $2,338 | 37 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $838 | $2,902 | 52 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $561 | $1,957 | 34 |
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.
Why Appendectomy Visit Costs Vary Across Alaska
Alaska's appendectomy costs run approximately 35% above the national average due to the state's remote location, limited competition among surgical providers, and high operational costs for medical facilities. The state's vast geography and sparse population create unique cost pressures that affect surgical pricing across all regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Anchorage and Fairbanks concentrate most of Alaska's surgical specialists, while rural communities often lack local appendectomy capabilities, requiring expensive medical transport to urban centers. Bush communities rely heavily on telemedicine consultations and emergency transport systems, significantly increasing total care costs. Regional hospitals in places like Juneau and Ketchikan provide intermediate options but may still refer complex cases to Anchorage facilities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Alaska's hospital systems, including Providence Alaska Medical Center and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, face higher overhead costs due to equipment shipping expenses, staff recruitment challenges, and heating costs during long winters. Independent surgical centers are rare outside of Anchorage, limiting price competition for elective procedures. Critical access hospitals in rural areas operate under different reimbursement models that can affect patient pricing.
Insurance Market Competition in Alaska
Premera Blue Cross dominates Alaska's insurance market with limited competition from other carriers, reducing competitive pressure on negotiated surgical rates. The small population spread across vast distances makes it difficult for new insurers to build adequate provider networks. Limited insurer competition often translates to higher patient costs and fewer coverage options for surgical procedures.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alaska
With 374 active appendectomy providers serving Alaska's scattered population, surgical capacity is concentrated in major urban areas while rural regions face significant access challenges. The state experiences ongoing recruitment difficulties for surgical specialists, contributing to higher compensation levels that affect patient pricing. Long travel distances and emergency transport requirements create additional demand pressures on available surgical services.
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 Alaska
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in Alaska without insurance?
Does Alaska Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in Alaska?
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 Alaska?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in Alaska?
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 |