How much does an appendectomy cost in Seattle?
Laparoscopic removal of the appendix. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 20 Seattle-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$3,904
lowest median negotiated rate
St. Anthony Hospital (Gig Harbor)
$20,616
highest (adult hospitals)
Swedish Medical Center (First Hill)
5.3×
price spread
same procedure, same metro
Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt
cash (self-pay) price
| Hospital | Gross charge | Cash price | Negotiated | Range | # rates | vs median |
|---|
* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.
SOURCE: standard-charges files from 20 hospitals · file dates 2025-07-26 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-07-26 → 2026-08-15
Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Virginia Mason Medical Center, the self-pay price is $7,778 — less than the $11,261 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.