Appendectomy Cost in San Francisco, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a appendectomy cost in San Francisco, CA?

You could pay $6,508 or $8,555 for the same appendectomy in San Francisco, CA - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 9 reporting hospitals is $7,145. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where appendectomy costs vary in San Francisco, CA

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

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California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states. Appendectomy is largely an emergency procedure, which eliminates most price shopping. The main cost driver is surgical approach and admission status: uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomies are increasingly performed as same-day outpatient cases at substantially lower total cost than open or complicated inpatient stays. Your primary out-of-pocket exposure is driven by your deductible and whether the facility and surgeon are both in-network.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $12,293, including MarinHealth Medical Center at $25,190, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $7,145 versus $1,675 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Setting drives most of the spread here: an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) is usually meaningfully cheaper than a hospital operating room for the same procedure, when your case qualifies.

What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.

Frequently asked questions: appendectomy costs in San Francisco, CA

How much does an appendectomy cost in San Francisco, CA?

Across 9 San Francisco, CA hospitals that publish prices, an appendectomy ranges from $1,675 to $25,190, with a median of $7,145. Most facilities fall between $6,083 and $8,555. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an appendectomy in San Francisco, CA?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Francisco, CA data is Contra Costa County in Matrinez at about $1,675. By metro, San Francisco has the lowest median ($8,567). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an appendectomy so much cheaper at some San Francisco, CA hospitals?

Prices vary up to 15× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Francisco, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $7,145 versus a median negotiated rate of $3,381 - about 2.1× higher. Asking for the cash price or your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for an appendectomy in San Francisco, CA?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).