Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in South Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Carolina's healthcare market operates at roughly 1% below national cost averages, reflecting the state's mix of urban medical centers and rural facilities serving diverse communities. For laparoscopic appendectomy procedures, patients typically pay between $80 and $1,290, with a median cost of $631 based on negotiated insurance rates across 1,336 active providers. The Palmetto State offers substantial provider options for appendectomy services, allowing patients to browse all providers in South Carolina for the most suitable care.
Average
$667
Median
$631
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,290
Providers
1,336
23% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in South Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,060 | $1,527 | $3,108 | 1,028 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,442 | $2,907 | 1,247 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $327 | $647 | $1,383 | 1,098 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $422 | $607 | $1,266 | 1,038 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $483 | $710 | $1,594 | 1,072 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $975 | $2,061 | 1,098 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $466 | $679 | $1,422 | 1,031 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $194 | $307 | $644 | 1,089 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $391 | $554 | $1,170 | 1,025 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $318 | $696 | $1,315 | 1,094 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $334 | $467 | $1,030 | 1,029 |
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 South Carolina
South Carolina's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, benefiting from lower overall operating costs while maintaining quality surgical services. The state's mix of established medical centers in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville balances against rural counties where surgical access may be limited.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville metropolitan areas concentrate most appendectomy providers, with robust competition keeping costs moderate compared to national levels. Rural counties often require patient transport to regional medical centers, potentially adding travel costs but sometimes offering lower facility fees. The state's geographic spread means some patients face longer transport times to reach specialized laparoscopic surgery capabilities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major health systems like MUSC Health, Prisma Health, and AnMed Health operate most hospital-based surgical facilities, with standardized pricing across their networks. Independent ambulatory surgery centers provide cost-effective alternatives for scheduled appendectomy procedures, though emergency cases typically route to hospital emergency departments. Teaching hospitals affiliated with MUSC and USC may offer competitive rates while providing resident-supervised care.
Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina maintains significant market share, alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna providing competitive alternatives in most regions. The concentrated insurer market allows for stable negotiated rates with surgical providers, contributing to South Carolina's below-national cost averages. Limited insurer competition in some rural markets may result in narrower provider networks for surgical services.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina
With 1,336 active appendectomy providers serving the state's 5.2 million residents, South Carolina maintains adequate surgical capacity for most regions. This provider density helps moderate pricing through competition while ensuring reasonable access to laparoscopic surgical expertise. Urban areas show surplus capacity that can accommodate scheduled procedures, while rural regions may experience longer wait times for non-emergency cases.
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 South Carolina
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in South Carolina without insurance?
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in South 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 South Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in South 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 |