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Appendectomy Cost in Knoxville, TN (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a appendectomy cost in Knoxville, TN?

The same appendectomy in Knoxville, TN might cost you $1,470 at one facility and $1,851 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 6 reporting hospitals is $1,851. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where appendectomy costs vary in Knoxville, TN

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Cheapest Appendectomy Providers in Knoxville, TN

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs Median
1 East Tennessee Childrens Hospital Knoxville, TN $1,089 -$762
2 Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge, TN $1,089 -$762
3 Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN $1,851 +$0
4 Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Knoxville, TN $1,851 +$0
5 Fort Loudoun Medical Center Lenoir City, TN $1,851 +$0
6 North Knoxville Medical Center Powell, TN $9,835 +$7,984

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick take

  • East Tennessee Childrens Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $1,089 - $762 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,851, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are often 30-60% cheaper than hospital outpatient departments for the same procedure and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor if one is an option.

HCA Healthcare, headquartered in Nashville, has significant hospital presence in its home state, creating pricing patterns more aligned with for-profit hospital economics than nonprofit systems in comparable markets. Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors the Nashville academic tier. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, maintaining a high uninsured rate that influences facility pricing structures. 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 $2,708, including North Knoxville Medical Center at $9,835, 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 $1,851 versus $1,089 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.

On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$1,851
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$370
Out-of-network provider $4,072+

Frequently asked questions: appendectomy costs in Knoxville, TN

How much does an appendectomy cost in Knoxville, TN?

Across 6 Knoxville, TN hospitals that publish prices, an appendectomy ranges from $1,089 to $9,835, with a median of $1,851. Most facilities fall between $1,280 and $1,851. 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 Knoxville, TN?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Knoxville, TN data is East Tennessee Childrens Hospital in Knoxville at about $1,089. By metro, Knoxville has the lowest median ($1,851). 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 Knoxville, TN hospitals?

Prices vary up to 9× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Knoxville, TN, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,851 versus a median negotiated rate of $882 - 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 Knoxville, TN?

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.

Before you book

Other procedures in Knoxville, TN

Appendectomy, elsewhere

What matters before you schedule

ASC vs. hospital

Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ASCs or independent centers for the same appendectomy - same outcome, very different bill. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.

What's on your bill

A appendectomy involves multiple providers who bill separately - typically Facility Fee, Surgeon Professional Fee, Anesthesia. Check each line item against your Explanation of Benefits to catch billing errors.

Cost by type

Which type your doctor orders for this appendectomy changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.

What to ask before you book

Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for appendectomy before you schedule.


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

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published June 12, 2026

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