Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in Tennessee
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Tennessee's healthcare market features over 2,600 active appendectomy providers across the state, reflecting strong surgical capacity despite the state's decision not to expand Medicaid. Patients facing laparoscopic appendectomy typically encounter costs ranging from $90 to $1,258, with a median rate of $748 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state's competitive surgical market, anchored by major health systems in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, offers patients numerous options when selecting an appendectomy provider throughout Tennessee.
Average
$699
Median
$748
Lowest
$90
Highest
$1,258
Providers
2,637
19% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in Tennessee?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,147 | $1,734 | $2,647 | 2,258 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,095 | $1,701 | $2,579 | 2,352 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $418 | $715 | $1,090 | 2,391 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $466 | $690 | $1,057 | 2,276 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $531 | $835 | $1,300 | 2,318 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,116 | $1,679 | 2,384 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $516 | $732 | $1,155 | 2,275 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $234 | $364 | $559 | 2,379 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $440 | $660 | $1,016 | 2,254 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $371 | $763 | $1,198 | 2,374 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $332 | $503 | $804 | 2,426 |
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 Tennessee
These hospitals in Tennessee are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
MOUNTAIN HOME, TN
MANCHESTER, TN
HUNTINGDON, TN
FRANKLIN, TN
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 Tennessee
Tennessee's healthcare costs run approximately 4% below national averages, reflecting lower overall cost of living outside major metropolitan areas. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural community hospitals creates significant cost variation, with Nashville and Memphis commanding premium rates while smaller communities offer more affordable options.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Tennessee's major cities like Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville offer multiple appendectomy providers with 24/7 availability, while rural counties may have limited surgical capacity requiring patient transfers. The state's mountainous eastern regions and rural western counties often rely on critical access hospitals that may lack laparoscopic capabilities. This geographic disparity can affect both immediate costs and travel expenses for patients seeking specialized surgical care.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned surgical centers in Tennessee typically charge higher facility fees than independent surgical facilities, reflecting increased administrative overhead and academic affiliations. Major health systems like HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare dominate urban markets with premium pricing structures. Community hospitals in smaller Tennessee cities often provide more competitive pricing while maintaining quality surgical outcomes for routine appendectomy procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Tennessee
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee maintains significant market share statewide, joined by UnitedHealthcare and Cigna in most regions, creating moderate insurer competition that helps control negotiated rates. Rural areas may have limited insurer options, potentially reducing competitive pressure on pricing. The state's insurance market structure allows for regional variation in negotiated surgical rates, with urban providers often commanding higher reimbursements than rural facilities.
Physician Supply and Demand in Tennessee
With over 2,600 active appendectomy providers throughout the state, Tennessee maintains adequate surgical capacity in most regions, helping control pricing through competition. Urban areas like Nashville benefit from surgical residency programs that ensure steady provider supply, while rural regions may experience periodic shortages requiring recruitment incentives. This robust provider network generally translates to reasonable wait times for non-emergency appendectomy procedures and competitive pricing in most markets.
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 Tennessee
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in Tennessee without insurance?
Does Tennessee Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in Tennessee?
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 |