Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia operates the nation's most concentrated healthcare market, with the highest provider density per capita serving a unique population of federal employees and residents. Appendectomy patients in DC typically pay between $413 and $1,405 for laparoscopic procedures, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $1,016 based on negotiated insurance rates. The district maintains 334 active Appendectomy providers across its compact geography, offering patients extensive choice when browsing all providers in District of Columbia.
Average
$945
Median
$1,016
Lowest
$413
Highest
$1,405
Providers
334
10% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,061 | $2,323 | $3,475 | 309 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,045 | $2,286 | $3,311 | 318 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $414 | $887 | $1,311 | 318 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $443 | $927 | $1,591 | 314 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $511 | $1,109 | $1,618 | 326 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $647 | $1,525 | $3,201 | 348 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $461 | $1,057 | $1,588 | 311 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $220 | $479 | $681 | 315 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $381 | $901 | $1,221 | 308 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $434 | $1,066 | $1,611 | 317 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $328 | $739 | $1,686 | 310 |
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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, driven by the highest physician salaries in the nation and premium real estate costs for medical facilities. The district's compact 68-square-mile area creates intense competition among prestigious health systems while maintaining some of the country's highest operating expenses.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
As a fully urban jurisdiction, District of Columbia lacks the rural access challenges seen in other areas, but neighborhood disparities exist between affluent Northwest DC and underserved areas east of the Anacostia River. All residents live within minutes of major trauma centers, creating unique competitive dynamics for emergency surgical services. The concentration of federal facilities and private hospitals in a small geographic area provides exceptional access but at premium pricing.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient surgical centers dominate DC's landscape, with major systems like MedStar, George Washington University Hospital, and Georgetown University Hospital commanding premium rates. Independent surgery centers are rare due to high real estate costs and regulatory barriers, limiting lower-cost alternatives for patients. Academic medical centers affiliated with area universities typically charge the highest rates but offer specialized expertise in complex cases.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
CareFirst BCBS maintains market dominance as the local Blue Cross plan, with UHC and Aetna providing competition primarily through employer groups and federal employee plans. The concentrated market with three major insurers creates limited price competition, contributing to higher negotiated rates than more competitive markets. Federal employee health benefits represent nearly 30% of the local market, influencing pricing structures across all insurers.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With 334 active Appendectomy providers serving just over 700,000 residents, District of Columbia has one of the highest surgeon-to-population ratios nationally, yet prices remain elevated due to high practice costs. The abundance of specialists reflects the area's teaching hospitals and federal medical facilities, creating supply that would be oversaturated in other markets. High demand from the professional workforce and medical tourism from surrounding areas maintains pricing power despite adequate supply.
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 District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in District of Columbia?
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 |