Appendix removal (appendectomy) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 424 US hospitals across 37 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $22,542 — about 38.1× the Medicare rate ($592). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($1,184).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $35,125 list price could save about $12,582 (36%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakbend Medical Center | Richmond, TX | $4,706 | $13,871 | ★ 3/5 | 105 min | — |
| Bayou Bend Health System | Franklin, LA | $5,611 | $7,290 | — | 102 min | — |
| Floyd County Medical Center | Charles City, IA | $8,077 | $10,719 | ★ 3/5 | 168 min | — |
| Myrtue Medical Center | Harlan, IA | $8,318 | $12,621 | ★ 3/5 | 61 min | — |
| Adventist Health Tulare | Tulare, CA | $8,591 | $16,466 | ★ 3/5 | 198 min | — |
| Adventist Health Simi Valley | Simi Valley, CA | $8,633 | $25,010 | ★ 2/5 | 156 min | — |
| Clara Barton Hospital | Hoisington, KS | $8,783 | $11,292 | ★ 2/5 | 136 min | — |
| Waverly Health Center | Waverly, IA | $9,318 | $13,711 | ★ 5/5 | 157 min | — |
| Redlands Community Hospital | Redlands, CA | $10,553 | $13,669 | ★ 2/5 | 231 min | — |
| Perham Health | Perham, MN | $12,010 | $12,038 | ★ 3/5 | 135 min | — |
| Adventist Health Castle | Kailua, HI | $12,383 | $15,663 | ★ 4/5 | 156 min | — |
| Winnmed | Decorah, IA | $12,579 | $16,122 | ★ 4/5 | 114 min | — |
| Daviess Community Hospital | Washington, IN | $12,590 | $17,781 | ★ 3/5 | 119 min | — |
| Yoakum Community Hospital | Yoakum, TX | $15,972 | $19,658 | ★ 3/5 | 92 min | — |
| Major Hospital | Shelbyville, IN | $16,010 | $38,542 | ★ 4/5 | 130 min | — |
| Cuyuna Regional Medical Center | Crosby, MN | $16,350 | $11,106 | ★ 3/5 | 102 min | — |
| Adventist Health Delano | Delano, CA | $16,991 | $35,914 | ★ 2/5 | 150 min | — |
| Lower Umpqua Hospital District | Reedsport, OR | $17,042 | $15,590 | — | 102 min | — |
| Lifecare Medical Center | Roseau, MN | $18,009 | $7,211 | — | 117 min | — |
| Harrison County Hospital | Corydon, IN | $19,014 | $15,663 | ★ 3/5 | 148 min | — |
| Hancock Regional Hospital | Greenfield, IN | $19,319 | $19,802 | ★ 4/5 | 162 min | — |
| Regional One Health | Memphis, TN | $19,777 | $16,355 | ★ 1/5 | 294 min | — |
| Witham Health Services | Lebanon, IN | $20,752 | $17,476 | ★ 4/5 | 117 min | — |
| Bay Area Hospital | Coos Bay, OR | $21,228 | $23,288 | ★ 2/5 | 157 min | — |
| Memorial Hospital | Abilene, KS | $21,900 | $7,649 | ★ 2/5 | 122 min | — |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated October 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
What insurers pay for Appendix removal (appendectomy)
Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $22,542; Medicare pays $592.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Highways | 5 |
$1,570 – $17,278 |
| Amerigroup | 15 |
$4,156 – $22,596 |
| Medicaid | 12 |
$4,054 – $19,655 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 12 |
$4,263 – $10,293 |
| Molina Healthcare | 31 |
$3,424 – $20,447 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 39 |
$4,038 – $23,815 |
| Medica | 11 |
$3,709 – $42,919 |
| Tricare / VA | 27 |
$6,344 – $20,281 |
| Medicare | 23 |
$7,030 – $25,340 |
| Anthem | 30 |
$5,902 – $29,927 |
| Oscar Health | 8 |
$7,340 – $25,007 |
| Humana | 44 |
$6,899 – $34,244 |
| Bright Health | 19 |
$11,582 – $29,684 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 111 |
$5,356 – $55,203 |
| Aetna | 92 |
$6,622 – $44,267 |
| Health Net | 15 |
$10,521 – $38,665 |
| Geisinger | 10 |
$2,734 – $68,400 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 58 |
$8,466 – $70,892 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 178 |
$9,596 – $45,725 |
| AmeriHealth | 19 |
$9,082 – $56,291 |
| Coventry | 6 |
$7,254 – $80,502 |
| HealthPartners | 12 |
$15,120 – $41,680 |
| Cigna | 72 |
$9,349 – $53,869 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 11 |
$12,355 – $56,961 |
Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.
Where it’s cheapest
| State | Median cash |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $5,611 |
| Iowa | $12,579 |
| California | $13,772 |
| Texas | $15,972 |
| Minnesota | $17,180 |
| Oregon | $19,135 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
Doctors who perform this
Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Lahourcade, M.D. | General Surgery | Tyler, TX | 18 |
| Rajeev Puri, MD | General Surgery | Cocoa Beach, FL | 17 |
| Steven Halbreich, M.D | General Surgery | Sarasota, FL | 16 |
| Peter Wang, M.D. | General Surgery | Newport Beach, CA | 16 |
| Alan Walters, MD | General Surgery | Prescott, AZ | 14 |
| Luigi Querusio, MD | General Surgery | Naples, FL | 14 |
| Erin Kloos, M.D. | General Surgery | Phoenix, AZ | 14 |
| Federico Serrot, MD | General Surgery | Stuart, FL | 13 |
| Marco Canulla, MD | General Surgery | Litchfield Park, AZ | 13 |
| M. Musara, MD, FACS | General Surgery | Glen Burnie, MD | 12 |
| Thang Nguyen, MD | General Surgery | Fountain Valley, CA | 12 |
| Yin Luk, M.D. | General Surgery | Leesburg, FL | 12 |
Commonly billed under: MS-DRG 338, MS-DRG 339, MS-DRG 340, MS-DRG 341, MS-DRG 342, MS-DRG 343.
Does Medicare cover Appendix removal (appendectomy)?
Yes — Medicare generally covers Appendix removal (appendectomy). It is typically an inpatient service, so Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) pays the hospital a bundled rate — Medicare’s benchmark payment is about $592. Your own cost is mainly the Part A hospital deductible for the benefit period (a flat amount, not a percentage), plus any physician (Part B) charges. A Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan can change what you owe.
General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.
About these prices
Based on prices published by 424 US hospitals across 37 states, the typical (median) cash price is $22,542, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $35,125, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $18,856, a Medicare rate of about $592. Most cash prices fall between $8,648 and $53,791 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.
How to save
- Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
- Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
- Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
- Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
- If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Appendix removal (appendectomy) cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover Appendix removal (appendectomy)?
What does Medicare pay for Appendix removal (appendectomy)?
Why do Appendix removal (appendectomy) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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