Emergency department visit Cost by Hospital

Emergency department visit is a clinic or emergency-department visit. Prices are from 2324 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$579median cash price · 2324 hospitals, 52 statestypically $205–$1,793 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,029
Cash / self-pay
$579
Insurer-negotiated
$423
Medicare pays
$69
$205$1,793
Median cash $579  ·  Medicare $69  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $579 — about 8.3× the Medicare rate ($69). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($139).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,029 list price could save about $450 (44%).

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
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $87 $260 — 166 min —
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $88 $151 — 95 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $88 $104 ★ 2/5 109 min —
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $88 $162 ★ 4/5 111 min —
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville, TN $90 $109 ★ 4/5 125 min —
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Tullahoma, TN $90 $109 ★ 3/5 168 min —
Reeves Memorial Medical Center Bernice, LA $92 $155 — 115 min —
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $95 $257 ★ 1/5 198 min —
Greene County Medical Center Jefferson, IA $96 $86 — 104 min —
Gillette Childrens Specialty Hospital Saint Paul, MN $97 $106 — — —
Ellis Hospital Schenectady, NY $98 $116 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt, IA $99 $88 — 100 min —
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital Nacogdoches, TX $101 $275 ★ 2/5 174 min —
Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee, IA $104 $56 ★ 2/5 134 min —
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $105 $177 — 127 min —
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $107 $89 ★ 5/5 — —
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services Gallup, NM $108 $247 — 136 min —
Bassett Healthcare Cooperstown, NY $108 $140 ★ 2/5 199 min —
Punxsutawney Area Hospital Punxsutawney, PA $109 $126 ★ 2/5 136 min —
Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock Bay Saint Louis, MS $114 $253 ★ 3/5 147 min —
Hospital General De Castaner Castaner, PR $116 $95 — — —
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Buckeye, WV $117 $350 — 105 min —
Casey County Hospital Liberty, KY $119 — ★ 3/5 94 min —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $119 $253 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $120 — — 130 min —

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 October 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

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: $579; Medicare pays $69.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 375
$87
$20 – $367
Univera 15
$87
$11 – $239
Medicare 609
$130
$37 – $576
Independent Health 40
$145
$23 – $726
Geisinger 73
$158
$48 – $961
AmeriHealth 247
$175
$43 – $1,460
Highmark 147
$179
$37 – $947
Centene / Ambetter 827
$184
$40 – $757
Molina Healthcare 577
$184
$41 – $800
Tricare / VA 439
$188
$40 – $1,519
UPMC Health Plan 108
$211
$50 – $1,144
Devoted Health 176
$272
$83 – $640
Humana 1106
$278
$64 – $1,410
Priority Health 61
$298
$62 – $1,462
UCare 87
$302
$85 – $1,085
Anthem 600
$326
$43 – $2,044
Amerigroup 173
$326
$57 – $627
MVP Health Care 88
$334
$50 – $2,046
Harvard Pilgrim 53
$340
$73 – $1,886
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 159
$382
$108 – $1,800
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1351
$384
$54 – $2,142
HealthPartners 301
$388
$71 – $1,441
Medica 254
$412
$90 – $1,522
Sanford Health Plan 86
$422
$111 – $1,044
UnitedHealthcare 1603
$429
$57 – $2,286
Kaiser Permanente 255
$451
$75 – $2,508
Security Health Plan 66
$453
$113 – $1,327
Aetna 1491
$458
$77 – $2,278
Oscar Health 257
$528
$106 – $1,662
Bright Health 67
$539
$121 – $2,497
Health Net 347
$564
$77 – $3,364
SelectHealth 57
$579
$115 – $1,892
Coventry 170
$581
$98 – $2,174
Cigna 1251
$700
$110 – $3,501
MultiPlan / PHCS network 915
$788
$167 – $3,335
Healthcare Highways 52
$790
$215 – $3,406
EmblemHealth 78
$907
$132 – $2,423
AvMed 68
$1,144
$258 – $5,322

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
Maryland$250
Mississippi$251
Iowa$258
Maine$276
Arkansas$297
Louisiana$297

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXBaltimore, MDNew York, NYBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOMilwaukee, WIOklahoma City, OKBronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSacramento, CABirmingham, ALBoston, MACincinnati, OHEl Paso, TXLittle Rock, ARRochester, NY

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinNew YorkIllinoisPennsylvaniaFloridaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaLouisianaTennesseeMissouriIowaArkansasNebraskaOklahomaColoradoKansasVirginiaSouth DakotaIndianaKentuckyArizonaWashingtonMassachusettsNew JerseyMarylandMississippiWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaMontanaNorth DakotaOregonIdahoConnecticutNew HampshireUtahNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoWyomingHawaiiVermontRhode IslandAlaskaDelawareWashington DC

Does Medicare cover Emergency department visit?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Emergency department visit. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $69. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $14 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2324 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $579, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $1,029, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $423, a Medicare rate of about $69. Most cash prices fall between $205 and $1,793 — 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 cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2324 US hospitals is $579. Most hospitals fall between $205 and $1,793. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Emergency department visit?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $69). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Emergency department visit?
Medicare pays about $69. 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 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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