Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's healthcare costs run approximately 18% above the national average, driven by high provider overhead and concentrated insurance markets dominated by Kaiser Permanente and Anthem Blue Cross. For laparoscopic appendectomy procedures, patients typically pay between $80 and $1,375, with a median negotiated rate of $933. With over 7,000 active appendectomy providers across the state, patients can browse options from San Diego's academic medical centers to Silicon Valley's tech-forward surgical practices.
Average
$796
Median
$933
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,375
Providers
7,138
8% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) 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 |
| 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 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $80 | $261 | $1,930 | 2,261 |
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 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 Appendectomy Visit Costs Vary Across California
California's healthcare costs run 18% above national averages due to high labor costs, expensive real estate, and stringent regulatory requirements that increase provider overhead. The state's geographic diversity creates dramatic cost variations between premium coastal markets and more affordable inland regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Bay Area and Los Angeles feature dense concentrations of surgical specialists, creating competitive pricing in some submarkets, while rural counties like Mono and Alpine rely on referrals to distant regional centers. Central Valley communities often balance access and affordability better than coastal metros. Northern California's remote regions may require helicopter transport to surgical facilities, dramatically increasing total costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
California's hospital-based outpatient clinics carry premium pricing due to facility fees, while independent surgery centers offer lower overhead and more competitive rates. Major health systems like Sutter Health, Dignity Health, and Providence dominate regional markets, with pricing power that reflects their market concentration. Academic medical centers like UCSF and UCLA command premium rates for complex cases.
Insurance Market Competition in California
Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare control most of California's commercial insurance market, with Kaiser's integrated delivery model offering different cost structures than traditional insurers. Regional competition varies significantly, with some counties having limited insurer choices that reduce negotiating pressure on provider rates. California's robust Covered California marketplace has increased competition in individual insurance segments.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With over 7,000 active appendectomy providers, California maintains adequate surgical capacity in most regions, though specialist distribution favors affluent coastal areas over inland communities. The state's large medical school network produces substantial surgical residency graduates, helping maintain competitive provider density. High provider supply in metros like San Francisco and Los Angeles can moderate pricing, while rural shortage areas command premium rates.
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 California
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy 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 Appendectomy visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in California?
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 |