I had two emergency room visits last winter (thankfully all was ultimately OK) which ran about $4,000 EACH, $8,000 total.
The hospital and subsidiary providers were all very amenable to a range of payment options.
$28,000 sounds right for an emergency appendectomy.
If I ever need elective surgery I’m off to Thailand, India, or Malaysia, all of which provide superior medical care at low cost.
Thailand?