Appendix removal (appendectomy) Cost by Hospital

Appendix removal (appendectomy) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 424 US hospitals across 37 states, from their machine-readable files.

$22,542median cash price · 424 hospitals, 37 statestypically $8,648–$53,791 depending on the hospital
≈ 38.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$35,125
Cash / self-pay
$22,542
Insurer-negotiated
$19,097
Medicare pays
$592
$8,648$53,791
Median cash $22,542  ·  Medicare $592  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

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%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Oakbend Medical Center Richmond, TX $4,706 $13,871 ★ 3/5 106 min 16.1%
Bayou Bend Health System Franklin, LA $5,611 $7,290 — 79 min 14.8%
Floyd County Medical Center Charles City, IA $8,077 $10,719 ★ 3/5 153 min 14.7%
Myrtue Medical Center Harlan, IA $8,318 $12,621 ★ 3/5 59 min 14.6%
Adventist Health Tulare Tulare, CA $8,591 $16,466 ★ 3/5 195 min 15.0%
Adventist Health Simi Valley Simi Valley, CA $8,633 $25,010 ★ 2/5 160 min 14.9%
Clara Barton Hospital Hoisington, KS $8,783 $11,292 ★ 2/5 142 min 15.2%
Waverly Health Center Waverly, IA $9,318 $13,711 ★ 5/5 155 min 14.2%
Redlands Community Hospital Redlands, CA $10,553 $13,669 ★ 2/5 222 min 14.3%
Perham Health Perham, MN $12,010 $12,038 ★ 3/5 131 min 14.8%
Adventist Health Castle Kailua, HI $12,383 $15,663 ★ 4/5 159 min 15.1%
Winnmed Decorah, IA $12,579 $16,122 ★ 4/5 124 min 14.5%
Daviess Community Hospital Washington, IN $12,590 $17,781 ★ 3/5 112 min 14.6%
Yoakum Community Hospital Yoakum, TX $15,972 $19,658 ★ 3/5 90 min 14.4%
Major Hospital Shelbyville, IN $16,010 $38,542 ★ 4/5 136 min 14.1%
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Crosby, MN $16,350 $11,106 ★ 3/5 100 min 15.0%
Adventist Health Delano Delano, CA $16,991 $35,914 ★ 2/5 156 min 15.0%
Lower Umpqua Hospital District Reedsport, OR $17,042 $15,590 — 105 min 15.2%
Lifecare Medical Center Roseau, MN $18,009 $7,211 — 119 min 14.6%
Harrison County Hospital Corydon, IN $19,014 $15,663 ★ 3/5 148 min 14.9%
Hancock Regional Hospital Greenfield, IN $19,319 $19,802 ★ 4/5 154 min 14.5%
Regional One Health Memphis, TN $19,777 $16,355 ★ 1/5 290 min 16.2%
Witham Health Services Lebanon, IN $20,752 $17,476 ★ 4/5 118 min 13.9%
Bay Area Hospital Coos Bay, OR $21,228 $23,288 ★ 2/5 160 min 15.2%
Memorial Hospital Abilene, KS $21,900 $7,649 ★ 2/5 121 min 14.6%

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 June 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.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Healthcare Highways 5
$4,402
$1,570 – $17,278
Amerigroup 15
$7,912
$4,156 – $22,596
Medicaid 12
$8,971
$4,054 – $19,655
UPMC Health Plan 12
$9,470
$4,263 – $10,293
Molina Healthcare 31
$9,877
$3,424 – $20,447
Centene / Ambetter 39
$10,191
$4,038 – $23,815
Medica 11
$10,212
$3,709 – $42,919
Tricare / VA 27
$10,497
$6,344 – $20,281
Medicare 23
$12,355
$7,030 – $25,340
Anthem 30
$12,991
$5,902 – $29,927
Oscar Health 8
$12,992
$7,340 – $25,007
Humana 44
$14,669
$6,899 – $34,244
Bright Health 19
$17,259
$11,582 – $29,684
UnitedHealthcare 111
$19,765
$5,356 – $55,203
Aetna 92
$19,883
$6,622 – $44,267
Health Net 15
$20,249
$10,521 – $38,665
Geisinger 10
$20,281
$2,734 – $68,400
MultiPlan / PHCS network 58
$20,308
$8,466 – $70,892
Blue Cross Blue Shield 178
$22,244
$9,596 – $45,725
AmeriHealth 19
$22,843
$9,082 – $56,291
Coventry 6
$23,282
$7,254 – $80,502
HealthPartners 12
$23,798
$15,120 – $41,680
Cigna 72
$25,069
$9,349 – $53,869
Kaiser Permanente 19
$29,837
$13,567 – $58,271

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

StateMedian cash
Louisiana$5,611
Iowa$12,579
California$13,772
Texas$15,972
Minnesota$17,180
Oregon$19,135

Prices by city

Pittsburgh, PAHouston, TXOmaha, NEPhiladelphia, PAArlington, TXAustin, TXDallas, TXLubbock, TXSalt Lake City, UTSan Antonio, TXSpokane, WATacoma, WA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaPennsylvaniaNew JerseyWashingtonLouisianaVirginiaMissouriOhioNebraskaIowaIllinoisUtahFloridaTennesseeIndianaGeorgiaOregonNew YorkKentuckyKansasOklahomaArkansasMinnesotaIdahoMontanaAlabamaColorado

Commonly billed under: MS-DRG 338, MS-DRG 339, MS-DRG 340, MS-DRG 341, MS-DRG 342, MS-DRG 343.

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 $19,097, 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?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 424 US hospitals is $22,542. Most hospitals fall between $8,648 and $53,791. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Appendix removal (appendectomy)?
Medicare pays about $592. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Appendix removal (appendectomy) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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