Appendectomy Cost in California (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a appendectomy cost in California?

For a commercially insured patient, an appendectomy in California typically runs $4,761–$10,757 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 104 hospitals is $6,239. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.

Where appendectomy costs vary in California

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 (5) report prices above $15,998, including Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital at $22,877, 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 $6,239 versus $3,779 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.

None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.

Frequently asked questions: appendectomy costs in California

How much does an appendectomy cost in California?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $391, with most facilities between $313 and $1,982 (based on 106 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $222 to $47,214 across all 104 California hospitals that publish prices. 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 California?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our California data is University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento at about $361. By metro, Long Beach has the lowest median ($1,963). 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 California hospitals?

Prices vary up to 212.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In California, the median cash (self-pay) price is $6,571 versus a median negotiated rate of $391 - about 16.8× 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 California?

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).