Price Checker / CPT 44955
How much does Appendectomy Add-on cost?
CPT 44955 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 65x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$110–$220
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,600
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$280
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $11,089 is $10,919 over the fair price (about 65x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Appendectomy Add-on
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital SANTA CRUZ, CA | — | — | 36297% |
| UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital SAN FRANCISCO, CA | — | — | 28584% |
| Lake Region Healthcare Hospital , MN | — | — | 22324% |
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc GRAFTON, WI | — | — | 19256% |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital WAUWATOSA, WI | — | — | 19256% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | — | — | 19242% |
| Grady Memorial Hospital CHICKASHA, OK | — | $0 | 17367% |
| "St. John's Hospital Camarillo" SPRINGFIELD, CA | — | — | 16973% |
| St. Anne Hospital , WA | — | — | 12637% |
| Surgical Institute of Reading WYOMISSING, PA | $8,648 | — | 11458% |
| Benson Hospital BENSON, AZ | — | — | 10506% |
| Haskell Regional Hospital , OK | $6,616 | $6,616 | 8742% |
| Monroe Regional Hospital ABERDEEN, MS | $6,616 | $6,616 | 8742% |
| Three Rivers Hospital BREWSTER, WA | $1,608 | $1,608 | 2048% |
| Hutchinson Hospital Hutchinson, MN | $411 | — | 1805% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
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About Appendectomy Add-on
CPT code 44955 refers to appendectomy add-on (billing description: "Appendectomy add-on"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $75 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $75 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.