Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in North Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
North Carolina's growing ambulatory surgery center market has expanded access to minimally invasive procedures, with over 2,500 providers offering Appendectomy services across the state. Patients typically pay between $80 and $1,655 for laparoscopic appendectomy procedures, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $776. The state's mix of academic medical centers, community hospitals, and independent surgical facilities creates competitive pricing options for residents seeking appendectomy care.
Average
$837
Median
$776
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,655
Providers
2,518
3% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in North Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,013 | $3,785 | 2,164 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $90 | $1,880 | $3,786 | 2,366 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $390 | $821 | $1,609 | 2,276 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $450 | $795 | $1,504 | 2,192 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $488 | $940 | $1,839 | 2,261 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,325 | $2,597 | 2,276 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $500 | $827 | $1,710 | 2,178 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $217 | $396 | $820 | 2,252 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $426 | $698 | $1,453 | 2,159 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $346 | $831 | $1,713 | 2,257 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $349 | $592 | $1,241 | 2,171 |
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 North Carolina
These hospitals in North Carolina are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
ASHEVILLE, NC
WINSTON-SALEM, NC
SILER CITY, NC
HENDERSONVILLE, NC
DURHAM, NC
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 North Carolina
North Carolina's appendectomy costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's balanced mix of urban medical centers and rural surgical facilities. The growing ambulatory surgery center market has increased competition and created more cost-effective options for elective procedures across major metropolitan areas.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metropolitan areas offer numerous appendectomy options with competitive pricing, while rural counties in the mountains and eastern plains may have limited surgical facilities. Rural critical access hospitals often partner with regional health systems to maintain emergency surgical capabilities. Travel to urban centers may be necessary for complex or elective appendectomy cases in some rural areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
North Carolina's major health systems like Atrium Health and UNC Health operate hospital-based surgical centers with higher overhead costs compared to independent ambulatory surgery centers. Free-standing surgery centers focusing on outpatient procedures often offer lower appendectomy rates due to reduced facility fees. Academic medical centers may have higher costs but provide access to specialized surgical techniques and resident training programs.
Insurance Market Competition in North Carolina
BCBS NC holds significant market share but faces competition from UHC and Aetna in most metropolitan areas, creating negotiated rate variations for appendectomy procedures. The absence of a state-based insurance marketplace limits plan options compared to expansion states. Regional insurers and self-funded employer plans add complexity to the payer mix affecting surgical pricing.
Physician Supply and Demand in North Carolina
With over 2,500 providers offering appendectomy services, North Carolina maintains adequate surgical capacity in most regions, helping moderate pricing through competition. The state's medical schools and surgical residency programs provide a steady pipeline of trained surgeons. Rural areas experience periodic surgeon shortages, potentially affecting access and emergency surgical costs in remote regions.
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 North Carolina
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in North Carolina without insurance?
Does North Carolina Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in North Carolina?
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 |