Emergency department visit (level 4) Cost

Emergency department visit (level 4) is a clinic or emergency-department visit. Prices are from 2263 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$950median cash price · 2263 hospitals, 52 statestypically $339–$3,325 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,773
Cash / self-pay
$950
Insurer-negotiated
$640
Medicare pays
$118
$339$3,325
Median cash $950  ·  Medicare $118  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $950 — about 8.0× the Medicare rate ($118). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($236).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,773 list price could save about $823 (46%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Cox Barton County Hospital Lamar, MO $143 $3,096 — 86 min 14.8%
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Buckeye, WV $144 $434 — 103 min 14.9%
Bassett Healthcare Cooperstown, NY $144 $183 ★ 2/5 199 min 15.6%
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $148 $390 ★ 2/5 203 min 16.0%
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin, NC $148 $143 ★ 3/5 171 min 15.1%
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $148 $385 — 162 min —
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City, OK $150 $384 — 110 min 13.1%
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville, TN $152 $202 ★ 4/5 123 min 13.6%
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Tullahoma, TN $152 $193 ★ 3/5 173 min 15.1%
Trinity Hospital Weaverville, CA $155 $152 — 70 min 14.5%
St Luke Community Hospital Ronan, MT $159 $325 — 110 min 15.1%
Casey County Hospital Liberty, KY $161 — ★ 3/5 100 min 15.2%
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $162 $199 — 125 min 14.9%
Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital Worcester, MA $162 $162 — — —
Dr Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center Boston, MA $162 $162 — — —
Williamson Memorial Inc Williamson, WV $163 $68 — — —
Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber Windber, PA $165 $140 ★ 2/5 133 min 15.5%
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $166 $249 — 88 min 14.7%
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $166 $234 ★ 2/5 110 min 15.7%
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $166 $249 ★ 4/5 109 min 14.6%
Little River Memorial Hospital Ashdown, AR $168 $192 — 160 min 14.9%
Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock Bay Saint Louis, MS $168 $391 ★ 3/5 149 min 16.1%
Potomac Valley Hospital Keyser, WV $169 $25 ★ 1/5 118 min 15.5%
Aspire Hospital Conroe, TX $171 $331 — — —
Porter-Starke Services Inc Valparaiso, IN $175 $115 — — —

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Emergency department visit (level 4)

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $950; Medicare pays $118.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 353
$91
$13 – $314
Univera 15
$118
$99 – $239
Medicare 591
$118
$19 – $502
Geisinger 71
$153
$114 – $1,369
Independent Health 40
$247
$45 – $1,164
Highmark 140
$253
$32 – $1,040
Centene / Ambetter 798
$309
$60 – $762
AmeriHealth 230
$317
$80 – $1,529
Molina Healthcare 547
$320
$80 – $912
Amerigroup 169
$363
$109 – $845
UPMC Health Plan 93
$383
$111 – $1,346
Tricare / VA 422
$387
$102 – $1,886
Harvard Pilgrim 52
$411
$135 – $1,886
Humana 1032
$419
$108 – $1,894
Anthem 551
$425
$40 – $2,465
Devoted Health 155
$431
$239 – $513
UCare 82
$431
$113 – $974
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1317
$440
$40 – $2,367
Priority Health 62
$455
$159 – $1,584
MVP Health Care 86
$525
$99 – $2,013
UnitedHealthcare 1528
$541
$115 – $2,894
HealthPartners 291
$562
$94 – $1,515
Kaiser Permanente 253
$589
$98 – $2,954
Bright Health 67
$620
$260 – $4,062
Aetna 1414
$652
$116 – $2,871
Medica 248
$681
$199 – $1,361
Oscar Health 229
$681
$160 – $2,453
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 158
$706
$242 – $2,274
Sanford Health Plan 84
$716
$189 – $1,112
Security Health Plan 63
$778
$253 – $975
Health Net 335
$801
$77 – $3,920
Coventry 161
$936
$147 – $2,471
SelectHealth 56
$943
$198 – $2,400
Cigna 1184
$1,182
$181 – $4,181
MultiPlan / PHCS network 866
$1,210
$253 – $3,877
EmblemHealth 64
$1,379
$183 – $3,292
Healthcare Highways 52
$1,524
$396 – $3,406
AvMed 64
$1,917
$479 – $5,845

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
Puerto Rico$250
Mississippi$284
Louisiana$468
Arkansas$480
Iowa$487
New Hampshire$503

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXBaltimore, MDKansas City, MOMilwaukee, WIOklahoma City, OKCharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSacramento, CABirmingham, ALCincinnati, OHEl Paso, TXLittle Rock, ARMiami, FLNew York, NYRochester, NYSaint Louis, MOSan Antonio, TXSan Diego, CA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaIllinoisWisconsinPennsylvaniaNew YorkMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaTennesseeLouisianaMissouriIowaArkansasNebraskaOklahomaColoradoVirginiaIndianaSouth DakotaKentuckyKansasWashingtonMarylandNew JerseyWest VirginiaMississippiArizonaMassachusettsAlabamaMaineSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoUtahNew HampshireConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoWyomingHawaiiVermontRhode IslandAlaskaDelawareWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2263 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $950, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $1,773, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $640, a Medicare rate of about $118. Most cash prices fall between $339 and $3,325 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Emergency department visit (level 4) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2263 US hospitals is $950. Most hospitals fall between $339 and $3,325. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Emergency department visit (level 4)?
Medicare pays about $118. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Emergency department visit (level 4) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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