emergency room cost for visit

• An emergency room visit typically is covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket cost for an emergency room visit typically consists of a copay, usually $50-$150 or more, which often is waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital. Depending on the plan, costs might include coinsurance of 10% to 50%.
• For patients without health insurance, an emergency room visit typically costs from $150-$3,000 or more, depending on the severity of the condition and what diagnostic tests and treatment are performed. In some cases, especially where critical care is required and/or a procedure or surgery is performed, the cost could reach $20,000 or more. For example, at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in Minnesota, a low-level emergency room visit, such as for a minor laceration, a skin rash or a minor viral infection, costs about $150 ; a moderate-level visit, such as for a urinary tract infection with fever or a head injury without neurological symptoms, about $400 ; and a high-level visit, such as for chest pains that require multiple diagnostic tests or treatments, or severe burns or ingestion of a toxic substance, about $1,000, not including the doctor fees. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center[ 1 ] , a low-level emergency room visit costs about $220, including hospital charge and doctor fee, with the uninsured discount, while a moderate-level visit costs about $610 and a high-level visit about $1,400 .
• Services, diagnostic tests and laboratory fees add to the final bill. For example, Wooster Community Hospital, in Ohio, charges about $170 for a simple suture, $200 for a complex suture, about $170 for a minor procedure and about $400 for a major procedure, not including doctor fees, medicine or supplies.
• A doctor fee could add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the final cost. For example, at Grand Lake Health System[ 2 ] in Ohio, an emergency room doctor charges about $100 for basic care, such as a wound recheck or simple laceration repair; about $300 for mid-level care, such as treatment of a simple fracture; about $870 for advanced-level care, such as frequent monitoring of vital signs and ordering multiple diagnostic tests, administering sedation or a blood transfusion for a seriously injured or ill patient; and about $1,450 for critical care, such as major trauma care or major burn care that could include chest tube insertion and management of IV medications and ventilator for a patient with a complex, life-threatening condition. At the Kettering Health Network, in Ohio, a low-level visit costs about $350, a high-level visit costs about $2,000 and critical care costs almost $1,700 for the first hour and $460 for each additional half hour; ER procedures or surgeries cost $460-$2,300 .
• According to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality[ 3 ] the average emergency room expense in 2008 was $1,265 .
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008, about 18%of emergency room patients waited less than 15 minutes to see a doctor, about 37%waited 15 minutes to an hour, about 15% waited one to two hours, about 5% waited two to three hours, about 2% waited three to four hours, and about 1.5% waited four to six hours.
• In some cases, the doctor might recommend the patient be admitted to the hospital. The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation offers a guide[ 4 ] on what to expect.
• An ambulance ride typically costs $400-$1,200 or more, depending on the location and services performed.
• An urgent care center offers substantial savings for more minor ailments. DukeHealth.org offers a guide[ 5 ] on when to seek urgent care. An urgent care visit typically costs between 20% and 50% of the cost of an emergency room visit. MainStreetMedica.com offers a cost-comparison tool for common ailments.
• Hospitals often offer discounts of up to 50% or more for self-pay/uninsured emergency room patients. For example, Ventura County Medical Center[ 6 ] in California offers ER visits, including the doctor fee and emergency room fee but not including lab tests, X-rays or procedures, for $150 for patients up to 200% of the federal poverty level, for $225 for patients between 200% and 500% of the federal poverty level and $350 for patients from 500% to 700% of the federal poverty level.
• The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation offers a primer[ 7 ] on when to go to the emergency room.
• In most cases, it is recommended to go to the nearest emergency room. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a hospital-comparison tool[ 8 ] that lists hospitals near a chosen zip code.
•   patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/billing_questions/out_of_pocket_estimator_dhmc.ht...
•   www.grandlakehealth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106&Itemid=60
•   meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/tables_compendia_hh_interactive.jsp?_SERVICE=MEPS...
•   www.EmergencyCareforYou.org/VitalCareMagazine/ER101/Default.aspx?id=1288
•   www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/wheretogo
•   resources.vchca.org/documents/SELF%20PAY%20DISCOUNT%20GRID%20-%20BOARD%20LETTER%20...
•   www.EmergencyCareforYou.org/YourHealth/AboutEmergencies/Default.aspx?id=26018
•   www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/(S(efntd2saaeir2l5pgarwuvvg))/search.aspx?AspxAut...

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost? Free Local Cost Calculator 

It’s true that you can’t plan for a medical emergency, but that doesn’t mean you have to be surprised when it’s time to pay your hospital bill. In 2021, the U.S. government enacted price transparency rules for hospitals in order to demystify health care costs. That means it should be easier to get answers to questions like how much an ER visit costs.

While the question seems pretty straightforward, the answer is more complicated. Your cost will vary based on factors such as if you’re insured, whether you’ve met your deductible, the type of plan you have, and what your plan covers. 

There is a lot to consider. This guide will take you through specific scenarios and answer questions about insurance plans, deductibles, co-payments, and discuss scenarios such as how much it costs if you go to the ER when it isn’t an emergency. 

You’ll learn a few industry secrets too. Did you know that if you don’t have insurance you might see a higher bill? According to the Wall Street Journal , it’s common for hospitals to charge uninsured and self-pay patients higher rates than insured patients for the same services. So, where can you go if you can’t afford to go to the ER?

Keep reading for all this plus real-life examples and cost-saving tips.

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost Without Insurance?

Everything is more expensive in the ER. According to UnitedHealth, a trip to the emergency department can cost 12 times more than a typical doctor’s office visit. The average ER visit is $2,200, and doesn’t include procedures or medications. 

If you want to get a better idea of what an ER visit will cost in your area, check out our medical price comparison tool that analyzes data from thousands of hospitals.

Compare Procedure Costs Near You

Other out-of-pocket expenses you may incur include bills from third parties. A growing number of emergency departments in the United States have become business entities separate from the hospital. So, third-party providers may bill you too, like:

• EMS services, like an ambulance or helicopter 
• ER physicians
• Attending physician
• Consulting physicians
• Advanced practice nurses (CRNA, NP)
• Physician assistants (PA)
• Physical therapists (PT)

And if your insurance company fails to pay, you may have to pay these expenses out-of-pocket.

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost With Insurance? 

The easiest way to estimate out-of-pocket expenses for an ER visit (or any other health care service) is to read your insurance policy. You’ll want to look for information around these terms:

• Deductible: The amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in . 
• Copay: A set fee you pay upfront before a covered medical service or procedure. 
• Coinsurance: The percentage you pay for a service or a procedure once you’ve met the deductible.
• Out-of-pocket maximum: The most you will pay for covered services in a rolling year. Once met, your insurance company will pay 100% of covered expenses for the rest of the year. 

Closely related to out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and co-insurance are premiums. A premium is the monthly fee you (or your sponsor) pay to the insurance company for coverage. If you pay a higher premium, you’ll have a lower deductible and fewer out-of-pocket costs whenever you use your insurance to pay for services such as a visit to the ER. The opposite is also true — high deductible health plans (HDHP) offer lower monthly payments but much higher deductibles. 

Sample ER Visit Cost

Using a few examples from plans available on the Marketplace on Healthcare.gov (current as of November 2021), here’s how this might play out in real life:

Rob is a young, healthy, single guy. He knows he needs health insurance but he feels reasonably sure that the only time he’d ever use it is in case of an emergency. Here’s the plan he chooses:

Plan: Blue Cross/Blue Shield Bronze Monthly premium: $394 Deductible: $7,000 Out-of-pocket maximum: $7,000 ER coverage: 100% after meeting the deductible

Rob does the math and considers the worst case scenario. If he does go to the ER, he’ll pay full price if he hasn’t yet met his deductible. But since both his deductible and his maximum out-of-pocket are the same, $7,000 is the most he’ll have to pay before his insurance kicks in at 100%.

Now imagine that Rob gets married and is about to start a family. He might need a different insurance plan to account for more hospital bills, doctors appointments, and inevitable emergency room visits.

Since Rob knows he’ll be using his insurance more often, he picks a plan with a lower deductible that covers more things. 

Plan: Bright HealthCare Gold Monthly premium: $643 Deductible: $0 Out-of-pocket maximum: $6,500 ER coverage: $500 Vision: $0 Generic prescription: $0 Primary care: $0 Specialist: $40

This time Rob goes with a zero deductible plan with a higher monthly premium. It’s more out-of-pocket each month, but since his plan covers doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, and vision, he feels more prepared as his lifestyle shifts into family mode. 

If he has to go to the ER for any reason, all he’ll pay is $500 and his insurance pays the rest. And worse case scenario, the most he’ll pay out-of-pocket in a year is $6,500. 

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost if You Have Medicare?

Medicare Part A only covers an emergency room visit if you’re admitted to the hospital. Medicare Part B covers 100% of most ER costs for most injuries, or if you become suddenly ill. Unlike private insurance and insurance purchased on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, Medicare rarely covers ER visits that happen while you’re outside of the United States.

To learn more, read: How to Use the Healthcare Marketplace to Buy Insurance

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost for Non-Emergencies?

When you have a sick child but lack insurance, haven’t met your deductible, or if you’re between paychecks, just knowing you can go to the ER without being hassled for money feels like such a relief. ER staff won’t demand payment upfront, and they usually don’t ask about insurance or assess your ability to pay until after discharge.

There are other reasons, too. You might be tempted to go to the ER for situations that are less than emergent because emergency departments provide easy access to health services 24/7, including holidays and the odd hours when your primary care physician isn’t available. If you’re one of the 61 million Americans who are uninsured or underinsured , you might go to the ER because you don’t know where else to go.

What you may not understand is the cost of an ER visit without insurance can total thousands of dollars. Consumers with ER bills that get sent to collections face some of the most aggressive debt collection practices of any industry. Collection accounts and charge-offs could affect your credit score for the better part of a decade.

Did you know that charges begin racking up as soon as you give the clerk your name and Social Security number? There are tons of horror stories out there about people receiving medical bills after waiting, some for many hours, and leaving without treatment. 

4 ER Alternatives Ranked by Level of Care

First and foremost, if you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. Do not rely on this or any other website for advice or communication. 

If you’re not sure whether your condition warrants immediate, high-level emergency care, you can always call your local ER and ask to speak to their triage nurse. They can quickly assess how urgent the situation is. 

If you are looking for a lower-cost alternative to the ER, this list provides a few options. Each option is ranked by their ability to provide you with a certain level of care from emergent care to the lowest level, which is similar to the routine care you would receive at a doctor’s office. 

1. Charitable Hospitals  

There are around 1,400 charity hospitals , clinics, and pharmacies dedicated to serving low-income families, including the uninsured. Most charitable, not-for-profit medical centers provide emergency room services, making it a good option if you’re uninsured and worried about accruing substantial medical debt. 

ERs at charitable hospitals provide the same type of medical care for conditions like trauma, broken bones, and life-threatening issues like chest pain and difficulty breathing. The major difference is the price tag. Emergency room fees at a charity hospital are usually flexible and almost always based on your income. 

2. Urgent Care Centers

Urgent care centers are free-standing facilities designed to treat patients with serious but not life-threatening conditions. Also called “doc in a box,” these ambulatory care centers are a good choice for treating stable but chronic health issues, fever, urinary tract infections, back pain, abdominal pain, and moderately high blood pressure, to name a few. 

Urgent care clinics usually have a medical doctor on-site. Some clinics offer point-of-care diagnostic tests like ultrasound and X-rays, as well as basic lab work. The average cost for an urgent care visit is around $180, according to UnitedHealth.

3. Retail Health Clinics

You may have noticed small retail health clinics (RHC) popping up in national drugstore chains like CVS, Walgreens, and in big-box stores like Target and Walmart. The Little Clinic is an example of an RHC that offers walk-in health care services at 190 supermarkets across the United States. 

RHCs help low-acuity patients with minor medical problems like sore throat, cough, flu-like symptoms, and other conditions normally treated in a doctor’s office. If you think you’ll need lab tests or other procedures, an RHC may not be the best choice. Data from UnitedHealth puts the average cost for an RHC visit at $100.

4. Telehealth Visits

Telehealth, in some form, has been around for decades. Until recently, it was mostly used to provide access to care for patients living in the most remote or rural areas. Since 2020, telehealth visits over the phone, via chat, or through videoconferencing have become a legitimate and extremely cost-effective alternative to in-person office visits. 

Telehealth is perfect for some types of mental health therapies, follow-up appointments, and triage. For self-pay, a telehealth visit only costs around $50, according to UnitedHealth.

Tips for Taking Control of Your Health Care

• Don’t procrastinate. Delaying the care you need for too long will end up costing you more in the end. 
• Switch your focus from reactive care to proactive care. Figuring out how to pay for an ER visit is a lot harder (and costlier) than preventing an ER visit in the first place. Data show that preventive health care measures lead to fewer illnesses and better outcomes.
• Plan for the unknown. It’s inevitable that at some point in your life you’ll need health care. Start a savings account fund or better yet, enroll in a health savings account (HSA). If you’re employed (even part-time) you already qualify for an HSA. A contribution of just $9 a paycheck could add up to $468 tax-free dollars for you to spend on health care every year. Unlike the use-it-or-lose-it savings plans of the past, modern plans don’t expire. You can use HSA dollars to pay for out-of-pocket costs like copayments, deductibles, and for services that your health insurance may not cover, like dental and vision services. 
• Advocate for yourself. There is nothing more empowering than taking charge of your health. Shop around for services and compare prices on procedures to make sure you’re getting the best prices possible.
• If you are uninsured or doing self-pay, negotiate your bill and ask for a cash discount. 

Estimate the Cost of the ER Before You Need It

It’s stressful to think about money when you’re facing an emergency. Research the costs of your nearest ER before you actually need to go with Compare.com’s procedure cost comparison tool . 

All you have to do is enter your ZIP code and you’ll immediately see out-of-pocket costs for ER visits at your local emergency rooms. It works for other medical services too, like MRIs, routine screenings, outpatient procedures, and more. Find the treatment you need at a price you can afford.

Disclaimer: Compare.com does not offer medical advice and is in no way a substitute for any medical advice received from health professionals. Compare.com is unable to offer any advice on any medical procedure you may need.

Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more.

As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.

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Emergency Room Visit: When to Go, What to Expect, Wait Times, and Cost

Knowing when and why to go for an emergency room visit can help you plan for care in the event of a medical emergency.

How much does it cost to go to an emergency room?

Emergency Room (ER) costs can vary greatly depending on what type of medical care you need. How much you pay for the visit depends on your health insurance plan. Most health plans may require you to pay something out-of-pocket for an emergency room visit. A visit to the ER may cost more if you have a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and you have not met your plan’s annual deductible. HDHP's typically offer lower monthly premiums and higher deductibles than traditional health plans. Your plan will start paying for eligible medical expenses once you’ve met the plan’s annual deductible. Here are some tips to pay less out of pocket .

When should I go to an emergency room?

Emergency rooms are often very busy because many people don’t know what type of care they need, so they immediately go to the ER when they are sick or hurt. You should make an emergency room visit for any condition that’s considered life-threatening.

Life-threatening conditions include, but are not limited to, things like a serious allergic reaction, trouble breathing or speaking, disorientation, a loss of consciousness, or any physical trauma.

If you need to be treated for problems that are considered non-life threatening, such as an earache, fever and flu symptoms, minor animal bites, mild asthma, or a mild urinary tract infection, consider seeing your doctor or visiting an urgent care center or convenience care clinic.

What is the cost of an emergency room visit without insurance?

Emergency room costs with or without health insurance can be very high. If you have health insurance, review your plan documents for details on the costs associated with your plan, including your plan deductible, coinsurance, and copay requirements.

If you don’t have insurance, you may be required to pay the full cost of your treatment, which can vary by facility and the type of treatment required. Always plan ahead for sudden sickness, injury, or other medical needs, so you know where to go and how much it could cost. If you need medical care, but it’s not life-threatening you may not have to go to the ER—there are other more affordable options:

• Urgent care center: Staffed by doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who can treat things like earaches, urinary tract infections, minor cuts, nausea, vomiting, etc. Wait times may be shorter and using an urgent care center could save you hundreds of dollars when compared to an ER.
• Convenience care clinic: Walk-in clinics are typically located in a pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) or supermarket/retail store (Target, Walmart, etc.). These clinics are staffed with physician assistants and nurse practitioners who can provide care for minor cold, fever, flu, rashes and bruises, head lice, allergies, sinus/ear infections, urinary tract infections, even flu and shingles shots. No appointments are needed, wait times are usually minimal, and a convenience care clinic costs much less than an ER.

Plan ahead for when you need medical care. You may not need an emergency room visit and the bill that could come with it.

What are common emergency room wait times?

Emergency room wait times vary according to hospital and location. Patients in the ER are seen based on how serious their condition is. This means that the patients with life-threatening conditions are treated first, and those with non-life threatening conditions have to wait.

To help reduce ER wait times, health care facilities encourage you to plan ahead for care, so when you’re sick or hurt, you know if the ER is right for your medical condition.

An emergency room visit can take up time and money if your problem is not life-threatening. Consider other care options, such as an urgent care center, convenience care clinic, your doctor, or a virtual doctor visit (video chat/telehealth)—all of which could be faster and save you money out of your own pocket if the medical problem is non-life threatening.

If you have health insurance, be sure to check your plan documents to see what types of care options are eligible for coverage under your plan, including whether or not you need to stay in your plan’s network.

Is taking an ambulance to the emergency room free?

An ambulance ride is not free, but your insurance may cover some of the costs for the ride, as well as the emergency room visit. Check your plan benefits to see what out-of-pocket expenses you are responsible for when it comes to an ambulance ride and a visit to the ER.

Plan ahead for times you may need immediate medical care. Review the details of your health plan so you know the costs for an ER visit should you ever need it. Know when it’s best to go to the emergency room and when going somewhere else, like an urgent care center, convenience care clinic, your doctor, or even a virtual doctor visit (video chat/telehealth), is the right option that may save you time and money.

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Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2006 Feb-.

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs [Internet].

Statistical brief #268 costs of emergency department visits in the united states, 2017.

Brian J. Moore , Ph.D. and Lan Liang , Ph.D.

Published: December 8, 2020 .

• Introduction

Emergency department (ED) visits have grown in the United States, with the rate of increase from 1996 to 2013 exceeding that for hospital inpatient care. 1 In 2017, 13.3 percent of the U.S. population incurred at least one expense for an ED visit. 2 Furthermore, more than 50 percent of hospital inpatient stays in 2017 included evidence of ED services prior to admission. 3 Trends in ED volume vary significantly by patient and hospital characteristics, but an examination of nationwide costs by these characteristics has not yet been explored in the literature. 4

This Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Brief presents statistics on the cost of ED visits in the United States using the 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Total ED charges were converted to costs using HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratios based on hospital accounting reports from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). ED visits include patients treated and released from the ED, as well as those admitted to the same hospital through the ED. Aggregate costs, average costs, and number of ED visits are presented by patient and hospital characteristics. Because of the large sample size of the NEDS data, small differences can be statistically significant. Thus, only percentage differences greater than or equal to 10 percent are discussed in the text.

• There were 144.8 million total emergency department (ED) visits in 2017 with aggregate ED costs totaling $76.3 billion (B).
• Aggregate ED costs were higher for females ($42.6B, 56 percent) than males ($33.7B, 44 percent); 55 percent of total ED visits were for females.
• Average cost per ED visit increased with age, from $290 for patients aged 17 years and younger to $690 for patients aged 65 years and older.
• As community-level income increased, shares of aggregate ED costs decreased and average cost per visit increased.
• In rural areas, one half of ED visit costs were for patients from the lowest income communities.
• The expected payer with the largest share of aggregate costs was private insurance in large metropolitan areas (31.4 percent of $39.5B) and Medicare in micropolitan (34.0 percent of $7.6B) and rural (37.3 percent of $5.5B) areas.
• Patients aged 18–44 years represented the largest share of aggregate ED costs in large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and micropolitan areas (36.4, 34.2, 32.5 percent, respectively). Patients aged 65 years and older represented the largest share of aggregate ED costs in rural areas (32.5 percent).

Aggregate costs for emergency department (ED) visits by patient sex and age group, 2017

Figure 1 presents aggregate ED visit costs by patient sex and age group in 2017 as well as number of ED visits. Estimates of aggregate cost use the product of the number of cases and the average estimated cost per visit to account for records with missing ED charge information. Aggregate cost decompositions among different descriptive statistics or using multiple levels of aggregation in a single computation could lead to slightly different total cost estimates due to the use of slightly different and more specific estimates of the missing information.

Aggregate ED visit costs by patient sex and age, 2017. Abbreviation: ED, emergency department Notes: Statistics for ED visits with missing or invalid patient characteristics are not presented. Patient age and sex were each missing for <0.1% of (more...)

• Aggregate ED visit costs in 2017 were higher overall for females than for males. Of the $76.3 billion in aggregate ED visit costs in 2017, females accounted for $42.6 billion (55.9 percent) and males accounted for $33.7 billion (44.1 percent). This cost differential was largely driven by a difference in ED visit volume, with females having a larger number of ED visits than males (80.2 vs. 64.6 million visits, or 55.4 vs. 44.6 percent of visits). Females had higher aggregate ED visit costs and more ED visits for all age groups except children. The discrepancy was highest for patients aged 18–44 years, with aggregate ED visit costs for females approximately 50 percent higher than costs for males ($15.9 vs. $10.7 billion), followed by patients aged 65 years and older, for which aggregate ED visit costs were approximately one-third higher for females than for males ($11.5 vs. $8.6 billion).

Costs of ED visits by patient characteristics, 2017

Table 1 presents the aggregate and average costs for ED visits, the number of ED visits, and the distributions of costs and visits, by select patient characteristics in 2017.

Aggregate costs, average costs, and number of ED visits by patient characteristics, 2017.

• In 2017, aggregate ED visit costs totaled $76.3 billion across 144.8 million ED visits, with an average cost per visit of $530. Aggregate ED visit costs totaled $76.3 billion in the United States in 2017, encompassing 144.8 million ED visits with an average cost per visit of $530. Routine discharge was the most frequent disposition from the ED, representing 80.8 percent of aggregate ED costs and a similar share of ED visits. Transfers represented 6.2 percent of aggregate ED costs but just 3.0 percent of ED visit volume because they had the highest average cost of any discharge disposition at $1,100 per ED visit. In contrast, ED visits resulting in an inpatient admission to the same hospital had the lowest average cost of any discharge disposition at $360 per ED visit and represented 9.4 percent of aggregate ED costs and 14.0 percent of ED visits.
• The share of aggregate ED visit costs attributed to patients aged 65 years and older was higher than the share of ED visits for this group, and the average cost per visit was highest among patients aged 65 years and older. Aggregate ED visit costs among patients aged 65 years and older totaled $20.2 billion (26.4 percent of the $76.3 billion total for the entire United States in 2017) despite just 29.2 million ED visits from patients in this age group (20.2 percent of the 144.8 million total). Conversely, the share of aggregate ED costs attributed to patients aged 17 years and younger was substantially lower than this group’s corresponding share of ED visits (10.3 percent of ED costs vs.18.5 percent of ED visits). This differential is due in part to the difference in average cost per visit, which increased with age. The average cost per visit among patients aged 65 years and older was more than twice as high as average costs among patients aged 17 years and younger ($690 vs. $290 per visit).
• Medicaid as the primary expected payer had the lowest average cost per ED visit, more than 50 percent lower than average costs for Medicare and one-third lower than for private insurance. Medicaid as the primary expected payer had an average cost per ED visit that was more than 50 percent lower than average costs per visit for Medicare ($420 vs. $660 per visit) and one-third lower than average costs for private insurance ($420 vs. $560 per visit). Due in part to these differences in average costs by expected payer, Medicare represented 30.1 percent of aggregate ED visit costs but 24.1 percent of total ED visits. In contrast, Medicaid represented 25.0 percent of ED costs but 31.5 percent of ED visits.
• As community-level income increased, the share of aggregate ED visit costs decreased and average cost per ED visit increased. The share of ED visit costs and ED visits decreased as community-level income increased. Patients residing in communities with the lowest income (quartile 1) represented roughly one-third of aggregate ED visit costs and ED visits (31.4 and 34.3 percent, respectively). Patients residing in quartiles 2 and 3 represented approximately one-fourth and one-fifth of aggregate ED visit costs and ED visits, respectively. Patients residing in communities with the highest income (quartile 4) represented less than one-fifth of aggregate ED costs and ED visits (18.1 and 16.0 percent, respectively). In contrast, average cost per ED visit increased as community-level income increased, ranging from $480 in communities with the lowest income (quartile 1) to $600 in communities with the highest income (quartile 4).
• The share of aggregate ED visit costs was highest among patients residing in large metropolitan areas. Aggregate ED visit costs for large metropolitan areas totaled $39.5 billion in 2017, more than half of the $76.3 billion in ED costs for the entire United States. The share of aggregate ED costs in large metropolitan areas was analogous to the overall distribution of ED visits in these areas: 51.8 percent of aggregate ED costs and 50.4 percent of ED visits.

Distribution of aggregate ED visit costs for location of patient residence by patient characteristics, 2017

Figures 2 – 4 present the distribution of aggregate costs for ED visits based on the location of the patient’s residence by age ( Figure 2 ), community-level income ( Figure 3 ), and primary expected payer ( Figure 4 ).

Aggregate ED visit costs by age and patient location, 2017. Abbreviations: B, billion; ED, emergency department; M, million Notes: Statistics for ED visits with missing or invalid patient characteristics are not presented. Patient age and patient location (more...)

Aggregate ED visit costs by primary expected payer and patient location, 2017. Abbreviations: B, billion; ED, emergency department; M, million Notes: Statistics for ED visits with missing or invalid patient characteristics are not presented. Expected (more...)

Aggregate ED visit costs by community-level income and location of patient’s residence, 2017. Abbreviations: B, billion; ED, emergency department; M, million Notes: Statistics for ED visits with missing or invalid patient characteristics are not (more...)

Figure 2 presents the distribution of aggregate costs for ED visits by patient age based on the location of the patient’s residence in 2017.

• Patients aged 18–44 years represented the largest share of aggregate ED visit costs in all locations except rural areas where patients aged 65 years and older represented the largest share. Compared with other age groups, patients aged 18–44 years represented the largest share of aggregate ED visit costs in large metropolitan areas in 2017 (36.4 percent). The share of ED costs attributed to patients aged 18–44 years also was larger than for other age groups in small metropolitan and micropolitan areas (34.2 and 32.5 percent, respectively). Overall, the share of ED costs attributed to patients aged 18–44 years decreased as urbanization decreased, from 36.4 percent in large metropolitan areas to 29.8 percent in rural areas. In rural areas, patients aged 65 years and older accounted for the largest share of aggregate ED visit costs (32.5 percent) compared with other age groups. The share of ED costs attributed to patients aged 65 years and older increased as urbanization decreased, from 24.7 percent in large metropolitan areas to 32.5 percent in rural areas. The share of aggregate ED visit costs attributed to patients aged 45–64 years and those aged 17 years and younger were similar across all patient locations (approximately 28 and 10 percent, respectively).

Figure 3 presents the distribution of aggregate costs for ED visits by quartile of community-level household income in the patient’s ZIP Code based on the location of the patient’s residence in 2017.

• In large metropolitan areas, patients residing in communities with the highest and lowest incomes represented the largest shares of aggregate ED visit costs. For other locations, patients in communities with lower incomes represented the largest share of ED costs. Patients residing in communities with the highest and lowest incomes (quartiles 4 and 1) accounted for 28.1 and 26.6 percent, respectively, of the $39.5 billion in aggregate ED visit costs in large metropolitan areas in 2017. In contrast, patients residing in communities with the two lowest income quartiles represented the largest share of ED costs for other patient locations (small metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural).
• As urbanization decreased, the share of aggregate ED visit costs for patients in the lowest income quartile increased and the share for those in the highest income quartile decreased. The share of aggregate ED visit costs attributed to patients residing in communities in the lowest income quartile (quartile 1) increased as urbanization decreased, from 26.6 percent in large metropolitan areas to 48.8 percent in rural areas. In contrast, the share of ED visit costs attributed to patients residing in communities in the highest income quartile (quartile 4) decreased as urbanization decreased, from 28.1 percent in large metropolitan areas to 1.2 percent in rural areas.

Figure 4 presents the distribution of aggregate costs for ED visits by primary expected payer based on the location of the patient’s residence in 2017.

• Private insurance as the primary expected payer accounted for the largest share of aggregate ED visit costs among patients living in large metropolitan areas. Medicare represented the largest share of ED costs in micropolitan and rural areas. Compared with other primary expected payers, private insurance represented the largest share of aggregate ED visit costs among those living in large metropolitan areas in 2017 (31.4 percent). The share of ED costs attributed to private insurance decreased as urbanization decreased, from 31.4 percent in large metropolitan areas to 27.9 percent in rural areas. More than one-third of ED visit costs were attributed to Medicare as the primary expected payer in micropolitan and rural areas. The share of ED costs attributed to Medicare increased as urbanization decreased, from 28.0 percent in large metropolitan areas to 37.3 percent in rural areas.

Costs of ED visits by hospital characteristics, 2017

Table 2 presents the aggregate and average costs for ED visits, the number of ED visits, and the distributions of costs and visits, by select hospital characteristics in 2017.

Aggregate costs, average costs, and number of ED visits by hospital characteristics, 2017.

• Aggregate ED visit costs were highest for hospitals located in the South in 2017. Aggregate ED visit costs in the South were $27.5 billion in 2017 (36.1 percent of the total $76.3 billion for the United States). The share of ED visit volume for the South was even larger (40.0 percent of the 144.8 million total visits). The distribution of aggregate ED visit costs across other hospital characteristics largely followed the pattern of the number of ED visits. Aggregate ED costs were highest in private, nonprofit hospitals; teaching hospitals; and hospitals not designated as a trauma center (72.0, 64.1, and 52.5 percent of ED costs, respectively). ED visits at private, for-profit hospitals had lower average costs per visit than did visits at either private, nonprofit or public hospitals ($420 vs. $540 and $550 per visit).
• About Statistical Briefs

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs provide basic descriptive statistics on a variety of topics using HCUP administrative healthcare data. Topics include hospital inpatient, ambulatory surgery, and emergency department use and costs, quality of care, access to care, medical conditions, procedures, and patient populations, among other topics. The reports are intended to generate hypotheses that can be further explored in other research; the reports are not designed to answer in-depth research questions using multivariate methods.

• Data Source

The estimates in this Statistical Brief are based upon data from the HCUP 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS).

• Definitions

Types of hospitals included in the HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample

The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) is based on emergency department (ED) data from community acute care hospitals, which are defined as short-term, non-Federal, general, and other specialty hospitals available to the public. Included among community hospitals are pediatric institutions and hospitals that are part of academic medical centers. Excluded are long-term care facilities such as rehabilitation, psychiatric, and alcoholism and chemical dependency hospitals. Hospitals included in the NEDS have EDs, and no more than 90 percent of their ED visits result in admission.

Unit of analysis

The unit of analysis is the ED visit, not a person or patient. This means that a person who is seen in the ED multiple times in 1 year will be counted each time as a separate visit in the ED.

Costs and charges

Total ED charges were converted to costs using HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratios based on hospital accounting reports from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). a Costs reflect the actual expenses incurred in the production of hospital services, such as wages, supplies, and utility costs; charges represent the amount a hospital billed for the case. For each hospital, a cost-to-charge ratio constructed specifically for the hospital ED is used. Hospital charges reflect the amount the hospital billed for the entire ED visit and do not include professional (physician) fees.

Total charges were not available on all NEDS records. About 13 percent of all ED visits (weighted) in the 2017 NEDS were missing information about ED charges, and therefore, ED cost could not be estimated. For ED visits that resulted in admission, 24 percent of records were missing ED charges. For ED visits that did not result in admission, 11 percent of records were missing ED charges. The missing information was concentrated in the West (59 percent of records missing ED charges). For this Statistical Brief, the methodology used for aggregate cost estimation was analogous to what is recommended for the estimation of aggregate charges in the Introduction to the HCUP NEDS documentation. b Aggregate costs were estimated as the product of number of visits and average cost per visit in each reporting category. If a stay was missing total charges, average cost was imputed using the average cost for other stays with the same combination of payer characteristics. Therefore, a comparison of aggregate cost estimates across different tables, figures, or characteristics may result in slight discrepancies.

How HCUP estimates of costs differ from National Health Expenditure Accounts

There are a number of differences between the costs cited in this Statistical Brief and spending as measured in the National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA), which are produced annually by CMS. c The largest source of difference comes from the HCUP coverage of ED treatment only in contrast to the NHEA inclusion of inpatient and other outpatient costs associated with other hospital-based outpatient clinics and departments as well. The outpatient portion of hospitals’ activities has been growing steadily and may exceed half of all hospital revenue in recent years. On the basis of the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, 2017 outpatient gross revenues (or charges) were about 49 percent of total hospital gross revenues. d

Smaller sources of differences come from the inclusion in the NHEA of hospitals that are excluded from HCUP. These include Federal hospitals (Department of Defense, Veterans Administration, Indian Health Services, and Department of Justice [prison] hospitals) as well as psychiatric, substance abuse, and long-term care hospitals. A third source of difference lies in the HCUP reliance on billed charges from hospitals to payers, adjusted to provide estimates of costs using hospital-wide cost-to-charge ratios, in contrast to the NHEA measurement of spending or revenue. HCUP costs estimate the amount of money required to produce hospital services, including expenses for wages, salaries, and benefits paid to staff as well as utilities, maintenance, and other similar expenses required to run a hospital. NHEA spending or revenue measures the amount of income received by the hospital for treatment and other services provided, including payments by insurers, patients, or government programs. The difference between revenues and costs includes profit for for-profit hospitals or surpluses for nonprofit hospitals.

Location of patients’ residence

Place of residence is based on the urban-rural classification scheme for U.S. counties developed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and based on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definition of a metropolitan service area as including a city and a population of at least 50,000 residents. For this Statistical Brief, we collapsed the NCHS categories into four groups according to the following:

Large Metropolitan

• Large Central Metropolitan: Counties in a metropolitan area with 1 million or more residents that satisfy at least one of the following criteria: (1) containing the entire population of the largest principal city of the metropolitan statistical area (MSA), (2) having their entire population contained within the largest principal city of the MSA, or (3) containing at least 250,000 residents of any principal city in the MSA
• Large Fringe Metropolitan: Counties in a metropolitan area with 1 million or more residents that do not qualify as large central metropolitan counties

Small Metropolitan

• Medium Metropolitan: Counties in a metropolitan area of 250,000–999,999 residents
• Small Metropolitan: Counties in a metropolitan area of 50,000–249,999 residents

Micropolitan:

• Micropolitan: Counties in a nonmetropolitan area of 10,000–49,999 residents
• Noncore: Counties in a nonmetropolitan and nonmicropolitan area

Community-level income

Community-level income is based on the median household income of the patient’s ZIP Code of residence. Quartiles are defined so that the total U.S. population is evenly distributed. Cut-offs for the quartiles are determined annually using ZIP Code demographic data obtained from Claritas, a vendor that produces population estimates and projections based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. e The value ranges for the income quartiles vary by year. The income quartile is missing for patients who are homeless or foreign.

Expected payer

• Medicare: includes fee-for-service and managed care Medicare
• Medicaid: includes fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid
• Private insurance: includes commercial nongovernmental payers, regardless of the type of plan (e.g., private health maintenance organizations [HMOs], preferred provider organizations [PPOs])
• Self-pay/No charge: includes self-pay, no charge, charity, and no expected payment
• Other payers: includes other Federal and local government programs (e.g., TRICARE, CHAMPVA, Indian Health Service, Black Lung, Title V) and Workers’ Compensation

ED visits that were expected to be billed to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) are included under Medicaid.

• Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
• Midwest: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas
• South: Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
• West: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii

Discharge status

Discharge status reflects the disposition of the patient at discharge from the ED and includes the following categories reported in this Statistical Brief: routine (to home); admitted as an inpatient to the same hospital; transfers (transfer to another short-term hospital; other transfers including skilled nursing facility, intermediate care, and another type of facility such as a nursing home); and all other dispositions (home healthcare; against medical advice [AMA]; died in the ED; or destination unknown).

Hospital characteristics

Data on hospital ownership and status as a teaching hospital was obtained from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals. Hospital ownership/control includes categories for government nonfederal (public), private not-for-profit (voluntary), and private investor-owned (proprietary). Teaching hospital is defined as having a residency program approved by the American Medical Association, being a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, or having a ratio of full-time equivalent interns and residents to beds of 0.25 or higher.

Hospital trauma level

• Level I centers have comprehensive resources, are able to care for the most severely injured, and provide leadership in education and research.
• Level II centers have comprehensive resources and are able to care for the most severely injured, but do not provide leadership in education and research.
• Level III centers provide prompt assessment and resuscitation, emergency surgery, and, if needed, transfer to a level I or II center.
• Level IV/V centers provide trauma support in remote areas in which no higher level of care is available. These centers resuscitate and stabilize patients and arrange transfer to an appropriate trauma facility.

For this Statistical Brief, trauma hospitals were defined as those classified by the ASC/COT as a level I, II, or III trauma center. This is consistent with the classification of trauma centers used in the NEDS. The ACS/COT has a program that verifies hospitals as trauma level I, II, or III. h It is important to note that although all level I, II, and III trauma centers offer a high level of trauma care, there may be differences in the specific services and resources offered by hospitals of different levels. Trauma levels IV and V are designated at the State level (and not by ACS/COT) with varying criteria applied across States.

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP, pronounced "H-Cup") is a family of healthcare databases and related software tools and products developed through a Federal-State-Industry partnership and sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). HCUP databases bring together the data collection efforts of State data organizations, hospital associations, and private data organizations (HCUP Partners) and the Federal government to create a national information resource of encounter-level healthcare data. HCUP includes the largest collection of longitudinal hospital care data in the United States, with all-payer, encounter-level information beginning in 1988. These databases enable research on a broad range of health policy issues, including cost and quality of health services, medical practice patterns, access to healthcare programs, and outcomes of treatments at the national, State, and local market levels.

• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
• Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Services Association
• Arizona Department of Health Services
• Arkansas Department of Health
• California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
• Colorado Hospital Association
• Connecticut Hospital Association
• Delaware Division of Public Health
• District of Columbia Hospital Association
• Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
• Georgia Hospital Association
• Hawaii Laulima Data Alliance
• Hawaii University of Hawai’i at Hilo
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Indiana Hospital Association
• Iowa Hospital Association
• Kansas Hospital Association
• Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
• Louisiana Department of Health
• Maine Health Data Organization
• Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
• Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis
• Michigan Health & Hospital Association
• Minnesota Hospital Association
• Mississippi State Department of Health
• Missouri Hospital Industry Data Institute
• Montana Hospital Association
• Nebraska Hospital Association Services
• Nevada Department of Health and Human
• New Hampshire Department of Health & Human
• New Jersey Department of Health
• New Mexico Department of Health
• New York State Department of Health
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• North Dakota (data provided by the Minnesota Hospital Association)
• Ohio Hospital Association
• Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
• Oregon Office of Health Analytics
• Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
• Rhode Island Department of Health
• South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
• South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations
• Tennessee Hospital Association
• Texas Department of State Health Services
• Utah Department of Health
• Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
• Virginia Health Information
• Washington State Department of Health
• West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Health Care Authority
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Wyoming Hospital Association
• About the NEDS

The HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) is a unique and powerful database that yields national estimates of emergency department (ED) visits. The NEDS was constructed using records from both the HCUP State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and the State Inpatient Databases (SID). The SEDD capture information on ED visits that do not result in an admission (i.e., patients who were treated in the ED and then released from the ED, or patients who were transferred to another hospital); the SID contain information on patients initially seen in the ED and then admitted to the same hospital. The NEDS was created to enable analyses of ED utilization patterns and support public health professionals, administrators, policymakers, and clinicians in their decision making regarding this critical source of care. The NEDS is produced annually beginning in 2006. Over time, the sampling frame for the NEDS has changed; thus, the number of States contributing to the NEDS varies from year to year. The NEDS is intended for national estimates only; no State-level estimates can be produced. The unweighted sample size for the 2017 NEDS is 33,506,645 (weighted, this represents 144,814,803 ED visits).

• For More Information

For other information on emergency department visits, refer to the HCUP Statistical Briefs located at www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb_ed.jsp .

• HCUP Fast Stats at www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/faststats/landing.jsp for easy access to the latest HCUP-based statistics for healthcare information topics
• HCUPnet, HCUP’s interactive query system, at www.hcupnet.ahrq.gov/

For more information about HCUP, visit www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/ .

For a detailed description of HCUP and more information on the design of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), please refer to the following database documentation:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Overview of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Updated December 2019. www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/nedsoverview.jsp . Accessed February 3, 2020.

• Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Nils Nordstrand of IBM Watson Health.

The HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratios (CCRs) for NEDS Files were not publicly available at the time of publication, so an internal version was used in this Statistical Brief.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) Database Documentation. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Updated April 27, 2020. www ​.hcup-us.ahrq.gov ​/db/nation/neds/nedsdbdocumentation.jsp . Accessed October 27, 2020.

For additional information about the NHEA, see Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). National Health Expenditure Data. CMS website. Updated December 17, 2019. www ​.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems ​/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports ​/NationalHealthExpendData/index ​.html?redirect= ​/NationalHealthExpendData/ . Accessed February 3, 2020.

American Hospital Association. TrendWatch Chartbook, 2019. Table 4.2. Distribution of Inpatient vs. Outpatient Revenues, 1995–2017. www ​.aha.org/system/files ​/media/file/2019 ​/11/TrendwatchChartbook-2019-Appendices ​.pdf . Accessed March 19, 2020.

Claritas. Claritas Demographic Profile by ZIP Code. https://claritas360.claritas.com/mybestsegments/. Accessed February 3, 2020.

American Trauma Society. Trauma Information Exchange Program (TIEP). www ​.amtrauma.org/page/TIEP . Accessed June 11, 2020.

MacKenzie EJ, Hoyt DB, Sacra JC, Jurkovich GJ, Carlini AR, Teitelbaum SD, et al. National inventory of hospital trauma centers. JAMA. 2003;289(12):1515–22. [ PubMed : 12672768 ]

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, Verification, Review, and Consultation Program for Hospitals. Additional details are available at www ​.facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/vrc . Accessed July 17, 2020.

Moore BJ (IBM Watson Health), Liang L (AHRQ). Costs of Emergency Department Visits in the United States, 2017. HCUP Statistical Brief #268. December 2020. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb268-ED-Costs-2017.pdf .

• Cite this Page Moore BJ, Liang L. Costs of Emergency Department Visits in the United States, 2017. 2020 Dec 8. In: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2006 Feb-. Statistical Brief #268.
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In this Page

• Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
• Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS)
• Kids' Inpatient Database (KID)
• Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)
• State Inpatient Databases (SID)
• State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD)
• State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD)
• HCUP Overview
• HCUP Fact Sheet
• HCUP Partners
• HCUP User Support

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Urgent care vs. emergency room visit cost

$150 – $250 average urgent care visit cost (without insurance), $1,500 – $3,000 average er visit cost (without insurance).

Emergency room vs. urgent care cost

The average urgent care visit costs $150 to $250 without insurance, while an emergency room visit costs $1,500 to $3,000 for the same service. While you should go to the ER for serious health concerns, visiting an urgent care center is the best choice for most non-life-threatening health issues.

What's the difference between urgent care and the emergency room?

Urgent care centers are meant for illnesses and injuries that are not life-threatening. These same-day clinics also provide other healthcare services, like routine physicals, imaging, and lab tests.

The emergency room is intended for critical, life-threatening situations that need immediate attention, such as a major injury, heart attack, stroke, or uncontrollable bleeding.

Cost comparison for common conditions

Many people go to the ER for health concerns that could be handled at an urgent care center for much cheaper. The cost of an urgent care visit is typically much less than the cost of an emergency room visit to treat the same ailment.

The table below shows the average costs for common conditions treated at an urgent care center or the ER.

If you have health insurance, your urgent care visit copay may be higher than your copay to see a primary care doctor but will likely be less than the out-of-pocket cost for an ER visit.

When to go to urgent care vs. the emergency room

Research shows 30% to 50%+ of emergency room patients could have been treated at an urgent care facility, often at a much lower cost. With healthcare prices constantly increasing, consider your options to make the best decision for your situation.

Call 9-1-1 or go to the ER for any serious, potentially life-threatening symptoms, such as:

Fever that does not resolve with over-the-counter medicine

Major broken bones

Trouble breathing

Serious head injury

Severe allergic reaction

Severe burn

Signs of a heart attack or stroke

Sudden severe pain

Sudden change in vision

Sudden confusion

Suddenly feeling weak or unable to move, speak, or walk

Uncontrollable bleeding

Consider an urgent care facility if you are experiencing a non-critical health issue and your primary doctor's office is closed or cannot fit you into the schedule. Urgent care centers can handle most non-emergency healthcare services, including:

Treatment for minor illnesses and injuries

Physicals needed for sports, school, or employment

Diagnostic lab testing

Medications

Medical equipment

Tips to save on urgent care and ER costs

No matter where you get treated, healthcare bills can add up quickly, even if you have insurance. Here are some guidelines to ensure you don't overpay for your care:

Assess your situation before heading straight to the ER. If your health issue is not life threatening, consider going to an urgent care center instead as the cost for the same services can be much lower.

If you do need emergency care, go to a hospital-based ER when possible. Freestanding ER centers typically cost more than hospital-based emergency rooms.

Call ahead to confirm the current wait time, costs, and payment options. Many urgent care centers require payment at the time of service.

Consider asking the following questions up front to prevent surprises in your bill:

Do you have discounted pricing for uninsured patients?

Do you work with any charitable organizations that could help with my costs?

Will this cost less if I pay with cash?

What will the cost be for my specific issue?

Do you think I will need lab tests or scans, and what will they cost?

How much do you charge for X-rays and imaging?

If I need medication, how much will it cost?

We use our proprietary database of project costs, personally contact industry experts to compile up-to-date pricing and insights, and conduct in-depth research to ensure accuracy in all our guides.

Health Spending

• Quality of Care

Access & Affordability

• Health & Wellbeing
• Price Transparency
• Affordability
• Prescription Drugs

Emergency department visits exceed affordability threshold for many consumers with private insurance

By Hope Schwartz Twitter ,  Matthew Rae Twitter ,  Gary Claxton ,  Dustin Cotliar,  Krutika Amin , and  Cynthia Cox Twitter

December 16, 2022

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Introduction

The high cost of emergency care may impact patients’ ability to afford treatment , with almost half of US adults reporting they have delayed care due to costs. Almost 1 in 10 Americans have medical debt , and about half of American households do not have the liquid assets to afford an average employer sponsored plan deductible. More than one third of US adults are unable to afford a $400 medical expense without borrowing.

Costs of medical emergencies present an additional financial burden on top of already costly health insurance premiums ranging $1,327 for single coverage and $6,106 for family coverage, on average, for workers with employer sponsored insurance. Variation in emergency department billing may make it difficult to predict the cost of an emergency department visit and subsequent financial liability. Recently, the No Surprises Act legislation aimed to curb unexpected emergency medical costs by prohibiting out-of-network billing for emergency services.

In this analysis, we use 2019 insurance claims data from the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database, which captures privately insured individuals with large employer health plans. We look at the total and out-of-pocket costs of emergency department visits for this group, overall and by diagnosis and severity level. We also look at which services contribute most to the costs of emergency department visits and examine regional variation in emergency department costs. Finally, we look at the demographic profile of consumers who visited the emergency department and the relationship between emergency department spending and annual spending for enrollees.

We find that enrollees spend $646 out-of-pocket, on average, for an emergency department visit. Enrollees with high annual health spending were more likely to visit the emergency department; the majority of enrollees in the top 10% of annual health care spending had at least one emergency department visit during the year. The most expensive components of most emergency department visits include evaluation and management charges, imaging, and laboratory studies, and facility fees make up 80% of the cost of visits. Cost varies by disease, visit complexity, and geographic region.

Large employer plan enrollees’ emergency department visits cost $2,453, on average, with enrollees responsible for $646 in out-of-pocket costs

On average, enrollees in large employer health plans who have an emergency department visit spend $646 out-of-pocket on the visit. There is significant variation in emergency department spending, with 25% of visits costing over $907 out-of-pocket and another quarter costing less than $128 out-of-pocket. These out-of-pocket costs for a single emergency department visit may be more than some people with private insurance can afford and, in some cases, could entirely deplete a consumer’s savings. For example, about 1-in-5 people (21%) with private insurance living in single-person households have less than $1,000 in liquid assets.

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These amounts only include out-of-pocket spending required by the insurer. Before the No Surprises Act went into effect in January 2022, privately insured patients who visited the emergency department frequently had out-of-network claims on their visit, putting them at risk of providers sending them surprise balance bills. The No Surprises Act now prohibits most surprise out-of-network billing, but does not apply to ground ambulances . Any balance bill that a patient received from a provider would not appear in claims data and therefore would have been in addition to the out-of-pocket amounts shown here.

In total, enrollees and insurers paid $2,453, on average, per visit, with one quarter of visits costing $970 or less and another quarter costing $3,043 or more. All the costs described in this analysis are for the emergency department visits only, including professional services and facility fees, and do not include any spending on subsequent hospitalizations.

Facility fees contribute significantly more than professional fees to total visit cost

Emergency department bills are categorized as facility fees or professional fees. Professional fees are for services provided by clinicians, and facility fees include bills for services rendered using equipment owned by the facility, including laboratory or imaging studies. These fees are considered “overhead” for emergency departments and help facilities maintain appropriate staffing levels and technical resources. Evaluation and management charges also have a facility fee component for the equipment, staffing, and administrative resources used by the physician in their management. We find that facility fees make up 80% of total visit cost.

Evaluation and management charges make up the largest share of costs

Including both the professional fee and facility fee components of charges, the largest contributor to spending on a typical emergency department visit is the evaluation and management charge, which accounts for almost half (44%) of average visit costs. Evaluation and management charges are bills for the assessment of a patient that are not related to specific procedures or treatments provided; these services cost over $1,100 per visit, on average.

Imaging charges, including radiologist interpretation fees, make up an additional 19% of the average emergency department visit charge and cost $483, on average. The highest cost routinely performed imaging services include x-rays of the chest and CT scans of the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Over half of visits (55%) include a charge for imaging services. About half of patients (49%) are charged for laboratory studies, including blood tests, which cost $230 on average. Other high cost but less common charges include surgical charges for patients with appendicitis and other conditions requiring surgery without inpatient admission, as well as ambulance charges for transport.

Heart attacks and appendicitis among the most expensive common conditions treated in the emergency department

Costs of emergency department visits depend on diagnosis. We selected nine common reasons to visit the emergency department that vary in complexity of management. More severe conditions, or those with more intervention required, are the most expensive. Of the nine specific diagnoses that we evaluated, the lower-cost diagnoses were those that generally do not require imaging or extensive treatment in the emergency department. These included upper respiratory tract infections ($1,535 total, $523 out-of-pocket), skin and soft tissue infections ($2,005 total, $572 out-of-pocket), and urinary tract infections ($2,726 total, $683 out-of-pocket). While these diagnoses can occasionally require admission to the hospital, in otherwise healthy adults they are typically evaluated with basic laboratory studies and discharged with prescriptions.

The most expensive emergency department diagnosis among those we examined is appendicitis, which, on average, costs $9,535 ($1,717 out-of-pocket) per visit. Appendicitis is almost two times as expensive as the next most expensive diagnosis we looked at, heart attack. 11% of enrollees with a diagnosis of appendicitis had surgical charges associated with their emergency department visit. Surgical costs may be included in emergency department outpatient billing because these patients are often discharged after surgery without being admitted to the hospital. In contrast, other emergency department visits requiring surgery are often admitted to the hospital and have surgical charges during their inpatient visit. Enrollees who had surgery had more expensive visits by over $2,000 compared to those who did not; however even without surgery, visits for appendicitis were almost four times as expensive as the average emergency department visit (and more than twice as expensive out-of-pocket).

Enrollees with emergency department visits have variable annual spending depending on diagnosis

In addition to the costs of the emergency department visit itself, enrollees who visit the emergency department at least once during the year have higher annual health care spending. Annual spending includes the cost of all claims for each patient in 2019, either before or after their emergency department visit. Though appendicitis was the most expensive emergency department visit among the diagnoses we analyzed, enrollees with appendicitis in 2019 incurred an average of $24,333 in additional health care spending, which was comparable to lower cost diagnoses. Enrollees with heart attacks had at least two times more annual spending than any other diagnosis ($52,993), while enrollees with upper respiratory tract infections had the lowest annual spending ($13,727).

These differences in annual costs may reflect spending both directly related and unrelated to the emergency department visit. For example, enrollees with heart attack emergency department visits may have high annual spending because of follow-up, medications, or hospitalizations after their heart attacks. However, their high annual spending may also reflect more comorbidities and higher healthcare utilization at baseline. In contrast, appendicitis, the most expensive emergency department visit, is correlated with relatively lower annual costs; unlike heart attacks, appendicitis often occurs in younger, healthier people and requires comparatively little additional post-surgical follow-up or treatment.

The most complex emergency visits are more than 6 times as expensive as the least expensive visits, but insurers pay an increasing share of the visit as complexity increases

Emergency department visits are coded by complexity during the billing process, from 1 (least complex) to 5 (most complex). Each evaluation and management charge is associated with a procedure code ranging from level 1 to level 5 (99281 to 99285), which are generated by hospital coding professionals based on the physicians’ medical note. Criteria are defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) and based on the complexity of documentation and medical decision making. Patients with level 1 complexity codes require straightforward medical decision making, with self-limited or minor presenting problems, such as rashes or medication refills. Patients with level 5 codes require high complexity medical decision making and present with life- or limb-threatening conditions, such as severe infections or cardiac arrests.

The lowest complexity visits cost $592 on average, with enrollees responsible for $205, or about one-third of the total visit cost. As visits increase in complexity, both out-of-pocket costs and costs covered by insurance increase. For the highest complexity visits, the health plan covers $3,015 on average, or eight times the cost of the lowest complexity visits. On average, patients pay $840 out-of-pocket for the highest complexity visits, which is four times their out-of-pocket costs for the lowest complexity visits.

Higher complexity visits are more expensive for multiple reasons. In general, evaluation and management charges are higher cost for more complex patients. Also, patients with more complex medical conditions generally receive more diagnostic tests, medication, and other treatment, which increases the cost of the visit. For the lowest complexity visits, evaluation and management charges account for almost half (47%) of the overall visit cost. In contrast, evaluation and management charges for the highest complexity visits account for about one-fourth (27%) of the total visit cost, with additional services including tests and treatment making up a larger share of the cost.

Emergency department costs vary by geographic region

We analyzed the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) by population, where data are available. Overall, the San Diego, CA area had the most expensive average ED visits ($3,761 on average). San Diego ED visits were more than twice as expensive as Baltimore, MD, the least expensive MSA in our analysis ($1,645 on average). Expensive MSAs were geographically distributed in all regions of the country including the South, West, Northeast, and Midwest. Within each MSA, there was significant variation in visit costa. For example, 25% of visits in Oakland, CA cost less than $1,236 on average, while 25% cost more than $4,436 on average.

Some variation may be based on the distribution of diagnoses in each area, with more serious or complex diagnoses leading to higher cost visits. For example, if a metro area sees higher than average volume of appendicitis, heart attacks, or other high-cost diagnoses, that would drive up regional emergency department costs.

For common diagnoses, Texas and Florida MSAs are among the most expensive

If we examine costs for specific diagnoses, we can minimize some of this variation in reasons for visits and gain a better understanding of how prices and service intensity affect the rankings. We selected two common, moderate-cost reasons for emergency department visits: low back pain and lower respiratory infections. While these visits can range in complexity and treatment required, they usually do not require hospital admission or high-cost treatment. Low back pain includes patients who present with the symptom of low back pain, regardless of diagnosis. Lower respiratory tract infection includes infectious causes of pneumonia and bronchitis. This analysis was limited to MSAs in which there were >500 cases of each diagnosis in 2019.

Visit costs for both diagnoses in Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Fort Worth, TX, and Orlando, FL are in the top five most expensive MSAs with >500 cases. For low back pain visits, the Orlando, FL, Fort Worth, TX, Dallas, TX, and Houston, TX areas are each more than twice as expensive as the Warren, MI and Detroit, MI areas, on average. This trend is similar for lower respiratory tract infections. Within MSAs, variation in costs exist for both diagnoses. For example, for low back pain visits, there is more than a $3,000 difference between the least expensive and most expensive quarter of visits in Fort Worth, TX, Dallas, TX, and Houston, TX.

12% of large employer group enrollees went to the emergency department in 2019

We find that 12% of large group enrollees under age 65 had at least one emergency department visit in 2019, and of enrollees with emergency department visits, 80% had only one visit. 20% had more than one visit, and 7% had more than two visits. Emergency department visits were associated with higher annual health care spending, with almost half of enrollees in the top 25% of annual spending having at least one emergency department visit during the year.

We find that the average emergency department visit exceeds the threshold that some consumers can pay without borrowing, and even one emergency department visit in a year may create financial hardship for enrollees in large employer plans. For example, one quarter of emergency department visits for large employer enrollees cost over $907 out-of-pocket. Meanwhile, about 1-in-5 people with private insurance do not have $1,000 in liquid assets, and almost half of US adults report that they would not be able to pay a $500 medical bill without going into debt. Emergency department visits range significantly in cost depending on diagnosis, visit complexity, and geographic area. These variations may present challenges for consumers trying to predict the cost of their emergency department visit prior to going to the emergency department.

Several factors contribute to the variability of emergency department charges. First, unlike other forms of outpatient care including primary care or urgent care visits, emergency departments charge facility fees to offset the cost of keeping emergency departments open and staffed 24/7. These fees vary widely and are increasing at a faster rate than overall health care spending. The facility component represented 80% of total emergency department spending in our analysis. Many hospitals and health care providers consider these costs necessary given their mandate to provide emergency triage and treatment to allcomers. A second contributor to variation is that services are often billed at different complexity levels, and visits that are billed as more complex are more expensive . In some cases, even similar services are billed at different prices by different facilities. Notably, surprise out-of-network medical bills from emergency departments have contributed to high emergency costs for consumers, though the cost of any balance bills would be outside the scope of our claims data. The implementation of the No Surprises Act in January 2022 will generally curb surprise medical billing for emergency care.

As seen in non-emergency spending , we find that emergency department costs vary by geographic area. Among the most expensive MSAs in our analysis were MSAs located in Texas, Florida, California, Colorado, and New York. Interestingly, the most expensive regions for ED care do not align with the most expensive regions for overall health care spending. These comparisons suggest that our findings are not solely related to overall high health care prices in these areas and may reflect other factors including the age and medical complexity of the population or differences in local norms and practice patterns. State-level emergency department regulation may also play a role—states with higher numbers of freestanding , non-hospital affiliated emergency departments (which are associated with higher spending on emergency care) were among the most costly in our analysis.

The financial implications of visiting the emergency department vary widely. Not all the variation in total charges is reflected in out-of-pocket costs, since differences in cost by complexity level are smaller after insurance covers its portion of the bill. However, the most complex emergency department visits have four times higher out-of-pocket costs than the least complex visits. Even the least complex visits, some of which could be treated by a primary care office or urgent care center, cost an average of $205 out-of-pocket ($592 total). Given facility fees and relatively high evaluation and management charges in emergency departments, insurers and patients are paying more when receiving care for these conditions at emergency departments than they would using primary or urgent care. These lower complexity visits may represent a substantial avoidable cost to patients and the health care system at large.   

High health care costs are of foremost concern for US adults, leading people to skip recommended medical treatment or delay necessary care. Even in the era of new price transparency regulation , which aims to improve consumer access to prices for elective care, emergency department consumers often do not know what testing or treatment they will need, so it is difficult to assess the costs of a visit upfront. Further, in an emergency situation, patients may not be able to choose their provider or facility if they are brought in by ambulance or otherwise unable to direct their care. Lastly, lack of availability and standardization in data may make it difficult for patients to use price transparency data in real time to make decisions about accepting tests and treatment in an emergency. The high and variable cost of emergency department visits represents an opportunity for future policy changes to protect consumers from unaffordable medical bills.

This analysis is based on data from the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database, which contains claims information provided by a sample of large employer plans. Enrollees in MarketScan claims data were included if they were enrolled for 12 months. This analysis used claims for almost 14 million people representing about 17% of the 85 million people in large group market plans (employers with a thousand or more workers) from 2004-2019. To make MarketScan data representative of large group plans, weights were applied to match counts in the Current Population Survey for enrollees at firms of a thousand or more workers by sex, age, state, and whether the enrollee was a policy holder or dependent.

Emergency department visits were flagged if an enrollee had an emergency department evaluation and management claim in the emergency department or the hospital on a given day. If an enrollee had either an emergency evaluation and management claim or another claim originating in the emergency department on the day prior to or after the flagged day, we added the previous and or following day’s outpatient spending to the visit cost. This was to capture all emergency department services for visits that may have spanned overnight or multiple days. Over half (53%) of the spending in this analysis occurred in the emergency department, with another 42% occurring in the hospital, which may occur when a patient receives a test or procedure in a location outside the emergency department during their visit.

Claims were included if they were above $100 and below the 99.5 th percentile of cost. Selected conditions were generated from a literature review of common emergency department diagnoses and defined using ICD10 codes. Enrollees were considered to have a certain diagnosis if the relevant ICD10 code appeared in the “Diagnosis 1” column in one or more claims on an emergency department visit day. While emergency department claims have up to four diagnoses, diagnoses listed in 2-4 were not used to identify relevant conditions because these diagnoses were most often incidentally found rather than related to the reason for presenting to the emergency department. For specific diagnosis definitions: Heart attack includes acute STEMI and NSTEMI, and excludes complications from prior heart attacks or angina; UTI includes acute cystitis, UTI and pyelonephritis; Kidney stone includes renal calculus in any location and renal colic; Lower respiratory infection includes pneumonia and bronchitis. Surgical charges for acute appendicitis include both open and laparoscopic surgical charges. Annual spending was defined as the total spending for each enrollee in the year 2019, which could occur before and/or after their emergency department visit depending on the time of year of the emergency department visit.

This analysis has some limitations. First, there is a chance that we could incorrectly include non-emergency outpatient care (such as a next-day, follow up primary care appointment) in our estimate of emergency department visit costs. Secondly, when accounting for annual spending, we do not control for health status prior to the emergency department visit. Therefore, the increase in annual health spending for patients who visit the emergency department for certain conditions may be because these patients are sicker and higher healthcare utilizers at baseline, rather than specific follow-up costs incurred for the emergency department visit itself. For selecting relevant diagnoses, we only include claims in which a particular diagnosis occurs as the primary diagnosis. Third, the MarketScan database includes only charges incurred under the enrollees’ plan and do not include balance billing to enrollees which may have occurred. Lastly, our findings only represent enrollees in large group employer sponsored plans and may not be generalizable to other groups.

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Visiting the emergency room (ER) can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially when you don’t have health insurance. Many people are unsure of what to expect when it comes to the cost of an ER visit without insurance. In this article, we will provide an in-depth look at the factors that influence the cost of an uninsured ER visit, the average expenses you can expect to incur, and some tips on how to navigate the financial aspects of an emergency medical situation. Whether you’re facing an unexpected medical emergency or simply want to be prepared for the future, this article will give you the information you need to understand the costs associated with an ER visit without insurance.

Table of Contents

Understanding the cost of an er visit without insurance, factors that affect er visit costs for uninsured patients, tips for managing emergency room expenses without insurance, negotiating your er bill and finding financial assistance programs, the conclusion.

When it comes to seeking medical attention in an emergency room, one thing is certain: it can be costly, especially if you don’t have insurance. The price for treatment can vary greatly depending on the severity of your condition, the tests and procedures needed, and the hospital you visit. On average, an ER visit can range from $150 to $3,000 or more for basic care, and can easily exceed $20,000 for more serious conditions that require hospitalization or surgery.

It’s important to understand that ER charges are often higher than those for the same services provided in a doctor’s office or urgent care center , due to the higher overhead costs associated with operating an emergency department. Additionally, many hospitals charge a facility fee, which covers the cost of maintaining the emergency room, medical equipment, and staff. This fee can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, and is separate from the cost of medical treatment.

Here is a breakdown of some common ER services and their average costs without insurance:

• Basic ER visit : $150 – $3,000
• Lab tests : $100 – $3,000
• X-rays : $150 – $1,000
• CT scans : $500 – $3,000
• MRIs : $1,000 – $5,000
• Sutures : $150 – $2,500
• Emergency surgery : $5,000 – $50,000+

It’s worth noting that these prices are just estimates and can vary widely depending on the hospital and its location. In some cases, hospitals may offer discounts or payment plans for uninsured patients. It’s always a good idea to ask about these options and to inquire about the costs of services before receiving treatment, if possible. Remember, the best way to avoid high ER costs is to have health insurance coverage, but if that’s not an option, understanding the potential costs can help you make informed decisions about your care.

When it comes to visiting the ER without insurance, there are several factors that can impact the overall cost. Firstly, the severity of the condition being treated plays a significant role in the final bill. For example, a simple sprain or minor cut may only result in a few hundred dollars in charges, while a more serious condition such as a heart attack or stroke can easily rack up tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Another important factor is the location of the hospital. Hospitals in urban areas tend to charge more for emergency room visits than those in rural areas. Additionally, some hospitals may have higher costs due to their reputation or the level of specialized care they offer.

Here are some other factors that can affect the cost of an ER visit for uninsured patients:

• The time of day or night the visit occurs
• The number of tests and procedures performed
• The amount of medication administered
• Any additional services required, such as ambulance transportation or overnight observation

It’s important to note that these are just estimates and the actual cost can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances. Uninsured patients should always inquire about financial assistance options and potential payment plans to help manage the cost of an ER visit.

Visiting the emergency room without insurance can often result in high medical bills that can be difficult to manage. However, there are several ways you can reduce the costs and avoid being overwhelmed by the expenses.

Research and Compare Prices

• Not all emergency rooms have the same pricing. Before deciding where to go, research the prices of different emergency rooms in your area. Some hospitals provide pricing information on their website, or you can call and ask for an estimate.
• Consider urgent care centers for non -life-threatening medical issues . The cost of an urgent care visit is usually lower than the emergency room.

Negotiate Payment Plans

• Ask the hospital if they offer a payment plan. Many hospitals are willing to work with patients to create a payment plan that fits their budget.
• Some hospitals offer financial assistance programs for patients without insurance. These programs may reduce the total cost of your bill or provide a discount.

Remember, the best way to manage emergency room expenses is to be prepared. Make sure to have some money saved for unexpected medical costs and always ask questions about the costs before receiving treatment.

If you’ve ever found yourself in the emergency room without insurance, you know that the cost can be staggering. On average, an ER visit can range anywhere from $150 to $3,000 or more , depending on the severity of your condition and the tests and treatments required. However, there are ways to negotiate your bill and find financial assistance programs to help alleviate the burden.

Firstly, it’s important to know that hospitals are often willing to work with patients on their bills. Consider asking for an itemized bill and review it carefully for any errors or charges for services you didn’t receive. If you find any discrepancies, don’t hesitate to bring them up with the billing department. Additionally, you can negotiate a payment plan or ask for a discount based on your financial situation. Many hospitals offer financial assistance programs for uninsured patients, so be sure to inquire about what options are available to you.

Here are some steps you can take to negotiate your ER bill:

• Request an itemized bill and review it thoroughly
• Contact the billing department to discuss errors or discrepancies
• Ask about payment plans or discounts based on your financial situation
• Inquire about financial assistance programs offered by the hospital

Furthermore, there are various financial assistance programs available at the state and federal level that can help cover the cost of your ER visit. For example, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are two programs that provide assistance to eligible individuals. Additionally, some hospitals have their own charity care programs that can help cover the costs for uninsured patients who meet certain income guidelines. It’s worth researching and applying for these programs to help ease the financial burden of your ER visit.

Q: How much does an ER visit cost without insurance? A: The cost of an ER visit without insurance can vary widely depending on the location and the services received. On average, the cost can range from $150 to $3,000 or more.

Q: What factors influence the cost of an ER visit without insurance? A: The cost of an ER visit without insurance is influenced by factors such as the severity of the injury or illness, the procedures and tests performed, the medications administered, and the hospital’s pricing.

Q: Can I negotiate the cost of an ER visit without insurance? A: Yes, it is possible to negotiate the cost of an ER visit without insurance. Many hospitals have financial assistance programs or may be willing to negotiate a payment plan.

Q: What should I do if I can’t afford the cost of an ER visit without insurance? A: If you cannot afford the cost of an ER visit without insurance, it is important to communicate with the hospital’s billing department. They may be able to offer financial assistance, payment plans, or discounts.

Q: Are there alternative options for individuals without insurance who need medical care? A: Yes, there are alternative options for individuals without insurance who need medical care, such as urgent care centers, community health clinics, and telemedicine services. These options may offer more affordable care for non-life-threatening conditions.

Q: Are there any resources available to help individuals estimate the cost of an ER visit without insurance? A: Yes, there are resources available to help individuals estimate the cost of an ER visit without insurance, such as healthcare cost transparency websites and hospital cost estimation tools. These resources can provide a general idea of the potential costs to expect.

In conclusion, the cost of an emergency room visit without insurance can vary greatly depending on the severity of the situation and the specific services required. It is important to be aware of the potential financial burden of an ER visit and to explore other options for care when possible. While the cost may be daunting, it is essential to seek medical attention in emergency situations and to consider options for obtaining health insurance to help mitigate the financial impact of unexpected medical expenses. We hope that this information has provided clarity on the potential costs and implications of seeking emergency care without insurance.

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It's 2 a.m., and you wake up with a terrible pain in your lower back . It's 5 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, and you suddenly feel extremely nauseous. It's 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, and the cough that's been bothering you suddenly seems to take a turn for the worse. What should you do?

Depending on the severity of the problem and your overall health, the answer to that question may be to head to the emergency room – a unit within your local hospital that handles all manner of emergent medical issues.

“ER providers are able to very quickly assess and treat sudden, serious and often life-threatening health issues,” explains Dr. Sameer Amin, chief medical officer with L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the country that serves nearly 2.9 million members.

The ER, also known as the emergency department, is open 24/7 and can handle a wide range of illnesses, including physical and psychiatric issues, adds Patrick Cassell, patient care administration, emergency services, with Orlando Health in Florida.

Some ERs are Level 1 trauma centers that can handle “very high-level stuff,” he explains, while others, such as those in a community hospital or more rural settings, might need to transfer patients to a larger facility. These transfers happen when the acuity (severity) of the need exceeds the hospital's capacity to care for the patient on-site.

Common Reasons to Visit the ER

So, what constitutes an emergency?

“For us, an emergency is what the patient thinks is an emergency,” Cassell says. “It’s something that we don’t get judge-y about.”

According to a report from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2018 (the most recent year data was available), U.S. residents made 143.5 million emergency room visits. Circulatory and digestive system conditions were the most common reasons for an emergency room visit, and 14% of those seen in the ER were admitted to the hospital .

Some common reasons to visit the ER include:

• Chest pains .
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Abdominal pain, which may be a sign of appendicitis , bowel obstruction, food poisoning or ulcers .
• Uncontrollable nausea or vomiting.
• COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory infections .
• Severe headaches .
• Weakness or numbness.
• Complications during pregnancy .
• Injuries, such as broken bones, sprains, cuts or open wounds.
• Urinary tract infections .
• Dizziness, hallucinations and fainting .
• Mental health disorders or suicide attempts.
• Substance use disorders.
• Back pain .
• Skin infections, rashes or lesions on the skin.
• Foreign object stuck inside the body.
• Tooth aches .

When to Seek Urgent Care Instead of the ER

If you're questioning where to seek care, you should opt for the emergency room if you might have a potentially serious condition or are in severe pain, advises Dr. Brian Lee, medical director of the Emergency Care Center at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California.

However, if you’re having a medical issue that’s not a full-blown emergency, but your primary care provider can’t get you in for an appointment, that’s a good time to head to an urgent care provider.

“Urgent care clinics are best equipped for a less dire level of care,” Amin explains. “They fill the gaps when the health concern will not require a hospital stay but still needs immediate treatment.”

Deciding between the ER and urgent care also depends on your medical history, notes Dr. Christopher E. San Miguel, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. For example, most people with a cough and a low-grade fever can be treated at an urgent care clinic without difficulty.

“If, however, you have a history of a lung transplant, you should probably be seen for your cough and fever at an ED,” he recommends.

Because urgent care centers typically offer less robust interventions than what you’d find at the emergency room, they can’t help in all situations. They can, however, refer you to a local ER if you do require more intensive care. They also tend to have a lower deductible than the ER, “and if you’re paying out of pocket, urgent cares can be cheaper than an emergency department typically,” Cassell says.

Cost of Urgent Care vs. ER

On the cost front, San Miguel says there are a few factors to be aware of, particularly if funds are an issue.

“Urgent cares are like any other outpatient health care office – they can require payment up front and decline to see patients who are unable to pay,” San Miguel explains.

Emergency departments, however, are compelled by federal law – the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act, which was enacted in 1986 – to see patients and assess them for “life- or limb-threatening illness and injuries regardless of their ability to pay,” he says.

While this means that the ER must see you, they can “decline to treat non-life-threatening problems once they determine that they are non-life-threatening,” San Miguel adds.

You won’t be charged a fee upfront to be seen in the emergency room, but the hospital can and will bill you after you’ve been discharged.

When you accept treatment at the emergency department, “you’re still ultimately accepting responsibility for the bill ,” San Miguel points out. “And because of the nature of providing a 24-hour service that is prepared to handle any emergency, the cost of care in the ED is much higher than the cost in an urgent care.”

If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve received emergency care but are unable to pay, you should call the billing office as soon as possible to talk about your options.

“Often the bill will be reduced and you’ll be placed on a reasonable payment plan,” San Miguel says.

For any non-urgent or ongoing health concerns, visit with your primary care provider, Amin adds.

“It’s always better to have longstanding issues taken care of in a calm and collected manner during normal business hours,” he explains.

How Long Is the Wait at an ER?

Before you arrive, consider that you could be in for a long wait, depending on the type of problem you’re having and the situation inside the ER.

“We don’t operate on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s based on how sick you are,” Cassell explains.

For instance, he says, patients with more severe illnesses, such as a suspected heart attack or stroke , will take precedence over less severe problems, such as a sprain or an earache .

Even though you may walk in and find an empty waiting room and assume you’ll be seen quickly, there could be all sorts of activity going on behind the scenes. Especially in larger ERs, ambulances may be arriving with sick patients or the ER may already be very busy with sicker patients. You will get the same triage if you come by ambulance or walk in to the ER.

So rest assured that if you are very sick, you will get brought back immediately if you walk into ER. Similarly, if you take an ambulance for broken toe, it wont get you in sooner. You will likely be placed in waiting room if ER full.

San Miguel adds, “The best thing you can do is to let the triage/registration team know if there has been a change in your symptoms while you are waiting. For instance, if your chest pain is getting worse or if you are now having trouble breathing, this should prompt the team to reassess you and make sure you are triaged appropriately.”

What Should You Do While You're Waiting to Be Seen?

While you’re waiting, Amin recommends considering what the provider will ask you, such as:

• When did symptoms start?
• How long have they been going on for? Have they changed in severity or frequency?
• Are symptoms related to a health issue you’re being treated for?
• What triggered your visit to the ER today?

You should also bring a list of your medications, health conditions and history, such as chronic conditions and previous surgeries. It's also a good idea to have the names of the providers on your care team, including your primary care doctor and any specialist. Having this information at the ready is especially helpful if you’re headed to an ER that’s outside of the health system you typically use.

“It’s immensely valuable if patients are able to provide us with an accurate history of their medical problems and current medications,” San Miguel notes. “Unfortunately, not all electronic health systems communicate with each other, and in the middle of the night, it can be impossible to request records from another hospital.”

What Happens When You See an ER Provider

When you are brought in to see a provider, the initial aim of the interaction is to assess what’s going on and make sure you’re stabilized.

For some patients, a "big point of frustration is the need to tell their symptoms to more than one person," San Miguel says. "It seems like we’re quite unorganized and not communicating with each other, but in reality, we just know that the patients themselves are the best source of information about their own symptoms.”

As the physician, San Miguel always reads the notes that come from the initial intake, “but I want to confirm the details directly with you.”

While you will receive some care on the spot, most of your treatment will take place elsewhere, Cassel adds.

“With the exception of putting in stitches to fix a cut, the emergency department is not in and of itself a definitive care spot. Definitive care takes place outside of the ED,” he says.

This means that once the care team determines what’s going on and what care you need, you’ll either be admitted to the hospital for more intensive treatment or sent home with care instructions and a plan for additional follow-up if necessary.

For example, if you are having a heart attack , you’ll be admitted to an inpatient unit in the hospital for more testing and stabilization. If you’ve come in for an earache, you’ll probably be given a prescription and sent home. You'll then use those medications and recover with instructions to follow up with your primary care provider as soon as they can see you.

Lee underscores that “emergency and urgent care is not complete care. It is an acute intervention that addresses specific issues that often require further attention in the ambulatory office setting.”

Lastly, remember that the providers you’re working with are doing their best to look after you in a timely, helpful fashion. The ER staff understand you have been waiting, but they have no control over how many patients show up at once. If a surge of patients show up in an hour, the ER doesn't have the ability to suddenly bring on more staff. This happens more frequently than people realize.

Cassell says that the people who staff the emergency department are there “because we love it. We are task-focused, and we’re often very busy going from place to place, but we really do care.”

Keep in mind that the ER is not generally a calm place and the patient experience will be different from what you might get if you’re admitted in the hospital.

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

The U.S. News Health team delivers accurate information about health, nutrition and fitness, as well as in-depth medical condition guides. All of our stories rely on multiple, independent sources and experts in the field, such as medical doctors and licensed nutritionists. To learn more about how we keep our content accurate and trustworthy, read our  editorial guidelines .

Amin is chief medical officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the U.S.

Cassell is patient care administrator, emergency services, with Orlando Health in Florida.

Lee is medical director of the Emergency Care Center at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California.

San Miguel is clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

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How do you help patients who show up in the ER 100 times a year?

Leslie Walker

Dan Gorenstein

The hope was that bringing many other services to people with high needs would stabilize their health problems. While the strategy has succeeded sometimes, it hasn't saved money. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images hide caption

The hope was that bringing many other services to people with high needs would stabilize their health problems. While the strategy has succeeded sometimes, it hasn't saved money.

Larry Moore, of Camden, N.J, defied the odds — he snatched his life back from a spiral of destruction. The question is: how?

For more than two years straight, Moore was sick, homeless and close-to-death drunk — on mouthwash, cologne, anything with alcohol, he says. He landed in the hospital 70 times between the fall of 2014 and the summer of 2017.

"I lived in the emergency room," the 56-year-old remembers. "They knew my name." Things got so bad, Moore would wait for the ER nurses to turn their backs so he could grab their hand sanitizer and drink it in the hospital bathroom.

"That's addiction," he says.

Then, in early 2018, something clicked, and turned Moore around. Today, he's more than five-years sober with his own apartment, and he has only needed the ER a handful of times since 2020. He's active in his church and building new relationships with his family.

Moore largely credits the Camden Coalition , a team of nurses, social workers and care coordinators for his transformation. The nonprofit organization seeks out health care's toughest patients — people whose medical and social problems combine to land them in the ER dozens of times a year — and wraps them in a quilt of medical care and social services. For Moore, that meant getting him medical attention, addiction treatment and — this was key for him — a permanent place to live.

"The Camden Coalition, they came and found me because I was really lost," Moore says. "They saved my life."

For two decades, hospitals, health insurers and state Medicaid programs across the country have yearned for a way to transform the health of people like Moore as reliably as a pill lowers cholesterol or an inhaler clears the lungs. In theory, regularly preventing even a few $10,000-hospital-stays a year for these costly repeat customers could both improve the health of marginalized people and save big dollars.

Larry Moore (left) in 2020 with staff members from the Camden Coalition. The housing and addiction treatment the organization helped him get has been life saving. Dan Gorenstein/Tradeoffs hide caption

Larry Moore (left) in 2020 with staff members from the Camden Coalition. The housing and addiction treatment the organization helped him get has been life saving.

But breaking this expensive cycle — particularly for patients whose lives are complicated by social problems like poverty and homelessness — has proved much harder than many health care leaders had hoped. For example, a pair of influential studies published in 2020 and 2023 found that the Coalition's pioneering approach of marrying medical and social services failed to reduce either ER visits or hospital readmissions . Larry Moore is the outlier, not the rule.

"The idea that someone should go to the emergency room 100 times in a year is a sign of deep, deep system dysfunction," says Jeff Brenner, the primary care physician who founded and led the Camden Coalition from 2002 until 2017. "It should be fixable. We're clearly still struggling."

Yet, Brenner and others on the frontlines of one of health care's toughest, priciest problems say they know a lot more today about what works and what misses the mark. Here are four lessons they've learned:

Lesson 1: Each patient needs a tailored, sustained plan. Not a quick fix

The Camden Coalition originally believed that just a few months of extra medical and social support would be enough to reduce the cycle of expensive hospital readmissions. But a 2020 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who got about 90 days of help from the Coalition were just as likely to end up back in the hospital as those who did not.

That's because, frontline organizations now realize, in some cases this wraparound approach takes more time to work than early pioneers expected.

"That 80th ER visit may be the moment at which the person feels like they can finally trust us, and they're ready to engage," says Amy Boutwell, president of Collaborative Healthcare Strategies , a firm that helps health systems reduce hospital readmissions. "We do not give up."

Frontline groups have also learned their services must be more targeted, says Allison Hamblin , who heads the nonprofit Center for Health Care Strategies, which helps state Medicaid agencies implement new programs. Organizations have begun to tailor their playbooks so the person with uncontrolled schizophrenia and the person battling addiction receive different sets of services.

Larry Moore, for example, has done fine with a light touch from the Coalition after they helped him secure stable housing. But other clients, like 41-year-old Arthur Brown, who struggles to stay on top of his Type 1 diabetes, need more sustained support. After several years, Coalition community health worker Dottie Scott still attends doctor's visits with Brown and regularly reminds him to take his medications and eat healthy meals.

Aaron Truchil, the Coalition's senior analytics director, likens this shift in treatment to the evolution of cancer care, when researchers realized that what looked like one disease was actually many and each required an individualized treatment.

"We don't yet have treatments for every segment of patient," Truchil says. "But that's where the work ahead lies."

Lesson 2: Invest more in the social safety net

Another expensive truth that this field has helped highlight: America's social safety net is frayed, at best.

The Coalition's original model hinged on the theory that navigating people to existing resources like primary care clinics and shelters would be enough to improve a person's health and simultaneously drive down health spending.

Over the years, some studies have found this kind of coordination can improve people's access to medical care , but fails to stabilize their lives enough to keep them out of the hospital. One reason: People frequently admitted to the hospital often have profound, urgent needs for an array of social services that outstrip local resources.

As a result of this early work, Hamblin says, state and federal officials — and even private insurers — now see social issues like a lack of housing as health problems, and are stepping in to fix them. Health care giants like insurers UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to build affordable housing, and private Medicare plans have boosted social services , too. Meanwhile, some states, including New York and California, are earmarking billions of Medicaid dollars to improve their members' social situations, from removing mold in apartments to delivering meals and paying people's rent .

Researchers caution that the evidence so far on the health returns of more socially focused investments is mixed — further proof, they say, that more studies are needed and there's no single solution that works for every patient.

Some health care experts also still question whether doctors and insurers are best positioned to lead these investments, or if policymakers and the social service sector should drive this work instead.

Lesson 3: Recent boom in new programs demands better coordination

This spike in spending has led to a wave of new organizations clamoring to serve this small but complex population, which Hamblin says can create waste in the system and confusion for patients.

"All of these barriers to entry and handoffs don't work for traumatized people," former Coalition CEO Brenner says. "They're now having to form new, trusting relationships with multiple different groups of people."

Streamlining more services under a single organization's roof is one possible solution. Evidence of that trend can be seen in the nationwide growth of clinics called Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, These clinics deliver mental health care, addiction treatment and even some primary care in one place.

Brenner, who now serves as CEO of the Jewish Board, a large New York City-based social service agency with a budget of more than $200 million a year, is embracing this integration trend. He says his agency is building out four of that newer type of behavioral health clinic, and offering clients housing on top of addiction treatment and mental health care.

Other groups, including the Camden Coalition, say simply getting neighboring care providers to talk to one another can make all the difference. Coalition head Kathleen Noonan estimates the organization now spends just 25% of its time on direct service work and the rest on quarterbacking, helping to coordinate and improve what she calls the "local ecosystem" of providers.

Lesson 4: Rethink your definition of success, and keep going

Twenty years ago, the goal of the Camden Coalition was to help their medically complex patients stay out of the E.R. and out of the hospital — provide better health care for less cost. Noonan, who took over from Jeff Brenner as CEO of the Coalition, says they've made progress in providing better care, at least in some cases — and that's a success. Saving money has been tougher.

"We certainly don't have quick dollars to save," Noonan says. "We still believe that there's tons of waste and use of the [E.R.] that could be reduced ... but it's going to take a lot longer."

Still, she and others in her field do see a path forward. As they focus on improving their patients' mental and physical health by developing and delivering the right mix of interventions in "the right dose," they believe the cost savings may ultimately follow, as they did in Larry Moore's case.

The stakes are high. Today, homelessness and addiction combined cost the U.S. health care system north of $20 billion a year, wreaking havoc on millions of Americans. As health care delivery has evolved in the last two decades, the question is no longer whether to address people's social needs, but how best to do that.

This story comes from the health policy podcast Tradeoffs . Dan Gorenstein is Tradeoffs' executive editor, and Leslie Walker is a senior reporter/producer for the show, where a version of this story first appeared. Tradeoffs' weekly newsletter brings more reporting on health care in America to your inbox.

• Camden, N.J.
• health costs
• Emergency Room
• emergency room frequent flier

What Is Medicare Supplement Plan N?

M edicare Supplement Plan N is a private insurance plan to cover the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare. Plan N charges lower monthly premiums than most other Medicare Supplement plans. While Plan N has copayments, they are fixed and not based on the cost of your care. Plan N combines affordability with cost predictability.

Key Takeaways

• Plan N is the third most popular Medigap plan with beneficiaries and one of the least expensive plans.
• Plan N helps to cover your portion of Medicare out-of-pocket costs. 
• Plan N does charge copayments in some situations; it won’t pay 100% of your bills.
• The copayments are fixed between $20 and $50 and are not based on the cost of your care.

How Plan N Works 

Like other Medicare supplement plans, you buy a Plan N Medigap plan from a private insurer. Plan N was the third most popular Medicare supplement choice for Medicare recipients behind Plan G and Plan F, with more than 1.3 million enrollees in 2021 (excluding California), according to a 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service. 

Every month, you pay a monthly premium to the insurer to stay enrolled in the Medigap plan. Plan N has some of the lowest monthly premiums among all Medicare supplement plans other than High-Deductible Plan G, although pricing can differ by insurer. 

No matter which insurer you buy the plan from, Plan N has the same required, standardized basic benefits.

Medicare Part A: 

• Coinsurance or copayments (up to limits outlined below)
• Hospital costs up to an extra 365 days after using up Medicare benefits 
• Entire Part A deductible
• Copayments from day 21 to 100 for post-hospital skilled nursing facility care
• First three pints of blood every year as a hospital inpatient

Medicare Part B:

• Doctor’s office coinsurance or copayments (up to limits below)
• First three pints of blood every year as a hospital outpatient

In addition, Medicare Supplement Plan N covers 80% of foreign emergency care charges during your first 60 days outside the United States, with a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000. You must first meet the $250 calendar year deductible. 

But Medigap doesn’t cover all the gaps. To get dental, vision, and hearing services and devices, you must sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan . 

Plan N Doctor’s Office Copayments: How They Work

Medicare Part A and B typically feature coinsurance requirements —for example, you’ll be asked to pay 20% of the cost of a doctor’s visit. Plan N steps in to pay most of this fee and only requires a smaller copay for office visits and emergency room visits. In both cases, you must meet the necessary deductibles (meaning you’ll pay bills in full out of pocket) before you’re only obliged to contribute your copayments.

With Plan N, you’ll pay $20 or less for each office visit. Office visits include covered healthcare provider and medical specialist visits. You'll have a copay for each visit if you have multiple office visits in one day. 

“Office visits” include office consultations or evaluation and management visits. For example:  

• New patient visits
• Established patient office or outpatient visits 
• Ophthalmology visits
• Psychotherapy visits

The copay doesn’t apply to X-ray, laboratory, or durable medical equipment charges. 

Plan N Emergency Room Copayments: How They Work

You’ll pay $50 or less for each covered emergency room visit if you’re not admitted to the hospital. You don’t pay a separate physician copay, according to CMS guidance. An urgent care visit doesn’t count as an emergency room visit. 

If you are admitted to the hospital, and the emergency visit is wrapped into a Medicare Part A expense, you don’t pay the copay. Emergency room visits have a higher copayment to “discourage unnecessary emergency room visits,” according to CMS. 

Plan N vs. Plan G

Plan G and Plan N are similar in most ways. Both pay for foreign-based emergency care, skilled nursing facility care copayments, and the entire Part A deductible. Neither pay the Part B deductible. 

However, Plan N’s premiums tend to be lower than Plan G’s. Plan G also offers a high-deductible option that lowers the monthly premiums—premiums are typically under $100 a month—but you’ll first need to hit a $2,800 deductible before your High-Deductible Plan G plan covers costs. 

In addition, Plan G covers the Part B excess charges from medical providers above Medicare’s approved amount, while Plan N does not. Plan G covers all doctor’s office and emergency room visit costs after you meet the deductible. But with Plan N, you’ll pay $20 for doctor’s office visits and $50 for emergency room visits after meeting the deductible. 

Pros & Cons of Plan N

Plan N is one of the more affordable Medicare Supplement plans. While Plan N charges copayments, the costs are fixed. Other low-premium plans, like Plan K and Plan L, charge a percentage of your total medical bill, so your out-of-pocket cost could end up much higher than with Plan N. Plan N also helps pay for emergency travel costs and other gaps in your medical coverage.

On the other hand, Plan N still charges copayments. Other Medicare Supplement plans, like Plan C, Plan F, and Plan G, do not. Plan N doesn’t offer a high-deductible version. Plan N also doesn’t cover your vision, dental, and hearing expenses, even preventive ones—for those, you’ll likely need a Medicare Advantage plan. 

Requirements for Plan N

To qualify for Plan N, you usually must be:

• Turning 65 on or after Jan. 1, 2020
• Enrolled in Original Medicare (not Medicare Advantage) Parts A and B
• In the initial enrollment period for Medicare at age 65
• In 33 states, people who qualify for Medicare due to a disability can be eligible for Plan N or other Medicare supplement policies.

The best time to enroll is during the six-month initial enrollment period for new Medicare beneficiaries. During this period, insurers can’t turn you away for preexisting health conditions, refuse to sell you a Medigap policy, or charge more based on your health history. States also regulate Medigap plans. In some states, Medigap guaranteed enrollment is extended beyond this period.

As long as you stay enrolled and pay the premium, the insurer can’t cancel your Medigap Plan N. 

If you qualify for Plan N, you’ll pay monthly premiums to buy the plan from the insurance company. Generally, you can expect an increase in the plan premium every year. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Medicare Plan N Cover Dental?

No, Medicare Plan N does not cover dental as a standard benefit. It is possible that the company you buy your Medicare plan from offers additional dental coverage in some form. However, most preventive senior dental coverage is provided through Medicare Advantage plans. 

What Are the Disadvantages of Plan N?

Plan N requires a copay with every office and emergency room visit after you’ve met your deductible. In addition, Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges and doesn’t offer a high-deductible plan version, which can reduce monthly premiums. If you try to buy Plan N outside your initial Medicare enrollment period, the insurer could charge you a higher premium based on your health. 

The Bottom Line

Medicare Supplement Plan N is an affordable way to handle the Original Medicare coverage gaps. Insurers typically charge lower premiums for Plan N versus other Medicare Supplement plans. One drawback is that Plan N charges copayments, but these copayments are fixed and not based on the cost of your medical care. An insurance broker can help you estimate your total costs using Plan N versus your other Medicare insurance options.

Read the original article on Investopedia .

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Kansas Disaster   Declaration

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Kansas and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm from January 8 to January 16, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Butler, Chase, Cloud, Edwards, Ford, Geary, Gray, Hodgeman, Morris, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Shawnee, Stafford, Trego, and Wabaunsee.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. 

Mr. DuWayne Tewes of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR [email protected] .

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