Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in North Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
North Dakota's rural healthcare landscape creates unique challenges for surgical care access, with many residents traveling significant distances for specialized procedures. Patients typically pay between $80.00 and $1,767.31 for a laparoscopic Appendectomy, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $800.16. North Dakota has 55 active Appendectomy providers serving the state's diverse geographic regions, and patients can browse all providers across North Dakota to find the most affordable options.
Average
$882
Median
$800
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,767
Providers
55
3% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in North Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,198 | $1,894 | $3,475 | 37 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $91 | $91 | $2,019 | 455 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $80 | $746 | $1,609 | 41 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $331 | $752 | $1,591 | 43 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $691 | $6,146 | $6,146 | 470 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $610 | $1,240 | $2,597 | 40 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $381 | $849 | $1,627 | 42 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $237 | $399 | $820 | 38 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $437 | $709 | $1,537 | 39 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $478 | $885 | $1,820 | 40 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $319 | $596 | $2,591 | 38 |
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 North Dakota
North Dakota's healthcare costs run approximately 4% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and limited provider competition in many regions. The state's oil boom regions have created unique healthcare demand pressures, while agricultural areas face different access and cost challenges.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
North Dakota's vast rural areas mean many patients must travel to Fargo, Bismarck, or Grand Forks for laparoscopic surgical services, with some critical access hospitals referring complex cases to regional medical centers. Rural facilities may have higher per-case costs due to lower surgical volumes, while urban centers benefit from economies of scale. Travel costs and lodging expenses can add significantly to the total cost of care for rural patients.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient surgical services in North Dakota typically carry higher facility fees than independent surgery centers due to higher overhead costs and regulatory requirements. Sanford Health and Essentia Health dominate much of the state's surgical capacity, with their integrated delivery models affecting pricing structures. Critical access hospitals receive special Medicare reimbursements that can influence their pricing for all patients.
Insurance Market Competition in North Dakota
With Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare as the primary insurers, competition is moderate but varies by region. Sanford Health Plan's integration with Sanford Health facilities can create cost advantages for members using in-system providers. Rural areas may have fewer insurer options, potentially limiting negotiating power for competitive rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in North Dakota
North Dakota's 55 active Appendectomy providers serve a widely dispersed population, creating adequate coverage in urban areas but potential access challenges in remote regions. The state's surgeon-to-population ratio is reasonable overall, though geographic distribution creates demand pressures in oil patch communities and agricultural regions. Recruitment incentives and loan forgiveness programs help maintain surgical capacity, but rural facilities may still face periodic coverage gaps affecting pricing and wait times.
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 Dakota
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in North Dakota without insurance?
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in North Dakota?
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 Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in North Dakota?
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 |