Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's competitive ambulatory surgery center market, particularly around the Denver metro area, has created favorable pricing dynamics for laparoscopic procedures compared to hospital-based alternatives. Appendectomy patients in Colorado typically face out-of-pocket costs ranging from $85 to $1,421, with a median cost of $789 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 1,460 active providers performing appendectomies across the state, patients can browse all qualified surgeons and facilities throughout Colorado to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$765
Median
$789
Lowest
$85
Highest
$1,421
Providers
1,461
11% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,049 | $3,475 | 1,282 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $940 | $1,978 | $3,328 | 1,345 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $808 | $2,114 | 1,468 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $452 | $805 | $1,326 | 1,321 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $90 | $940 | $1,635 | 1,256 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,202 | $2,204 | 1,315 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $526 | $855 | $1,567 | 1,308 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $385 | $694 | 1,441 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $441 | $712 | $1,242 | 1,269 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $877 | $1,561 | 1,292 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $629 | $1,110 | 1,293 |
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 Colorado
These hospitals in Colorado are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
DURANGO, CO
FRISCO, CO
LAKEWOOD, CO
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
CORTEZ, CO
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 Colorado
Colorado's healthcare costs run approximately 7% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living and concentration of medical facilities along the Front Range corridor. The competitive ambulatory surgery center market in Denver creates downward pressure on appendectomy pricing compared to hospital-dominated rural markets.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Denver-Boulder metro area contains the majority of Colorado's laparoscopic surgery capacity, while residents of the Western Slope or San Luis Valley may need to travel significant distances for specialized care. Rural areas often rely on hospital-based surgery centers with higher overhead costs, while urban areas benefit from independent ambulatory surgery centers. This geographic disparity creates substantial cost and access differences across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Independent ambulatory surgery centers in Colorado typically charge 40-60% less than hospital outpatient departments for identical laparoscopic appendectomy procedures. Major health systems like Presbyterian/St. Joseph, UCHealth, and SCL Health operate higher-cost hospital-based facilities, while smaller ASCs focus on cost-effective routine surgeries. Facility overhead costs vary dramatically between Denver's competitive market and smaller mountain communities.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
Strong competition between UnitedHealth, Anthem, and Kaiser Permanente has created relatively favorable negotiated rates compared to less competitive state markets. Colorado's state insurance exchange offers multiple plan options, giving consumers leverage to choose networks with preferred surgical facilities. The competitive environment has particularly benefited ambulatory surgery center reimbursement rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
With over 1,460 providers performing appendectomies statewide, Colorado maintains adequate surgical capacity in metro areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates longer wait times and higher costs in mountain and plains communities compared to the Front Range. The concentration of providers in Denver and Colorado Springs gives patients in these areas significant cost and scheduling advantages.
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 Colorado
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in Colorado?
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 |