Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Alaska
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alaska's remote geography and limited healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for emergency care access, with the state having one of the lowest physician-to-patient ratios in the nation. For a ER Visit (High) in Alaska, patients typically pay between $80 and $292, with a median negotiated rate of $80 across 399 active providers statewide. Browse all ER Visit (High) providers in Alaska to compare costs and find the best option for your emergency care needs.
Average
$151
Median
$80
Lowest
$80
Highest
$292
Providers
399
20% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Alaska?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $69 | $80 | $118 | 401 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $80 | $80 | $194 | 402 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 99285 — Emergency department visit, high severity). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 99285 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 99285 (Emergency department visit, high severity), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 99285 covers: the provider's professional fee for er visit (high severity). It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why ER Visit (High) Visit Costs Vary Across Alaska
Alaska's emergency care costs run approximately 35% above national averages, driven by the state's remote geography, extreme weather conditions, and limited healthcare infrastructure. The state's unique challenges include seasonal access issues, high operational costs for medical facilities, and the frequent need for medical evacuations to major treatment centers.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Alaska's emergency care is heavily concentrated in Anchorage and Fairbanks, with rural communities often relying on small critical access hospitals or having to travel hundreds of miles for definitive care. This geographic disparity creates significant cost variations, with rural facilities often charging premium rates due to limited competition and higher operational expenses. The Bush communities frequently depend on fly-in emergency services, dramatically increasing overall care costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments in Alaska face unique operational challenges including extreme weather, seasonal supply delivery issues, and the need to maintain capabilities for potential medical evacuations. The Alaska Native Medical Center and Providence Alaska Medical Center dominate emergency care in Anchorage, while smaller independent facilities serve rural communities. These overhead factors contribute significantly to Alaska's above-average emergency care costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Alaska
Premera Blue Cross dominates Alaska's insurance market, creating limited insurer competition but establishing relatively consistent negotiated rates across the state. The concentrated market means fewer rate variations between insurers but also less competitive pressure to reduce costs. This market structure, combined with Alaska's unique geographic challenges, contributes to higher negotiated rates for emergency services.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alaska
With 399 active ER Visit (High) providers serving Alaska's dispersed population, the state maintains adequate emergency coverage in urban areas but faces significant shortages in rural regions. This uneven distribution creates longer travel times for emergency care in remote areas and contributes to higher costs due to limited provider competition. The challenging practice environment and seasonal population fluctuations make physician recruitment and retention particularly difficult in Alaska.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — ER Visit (High) Costs in Alaska
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Alaska without insurance?
Does Alaska Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Alaska?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a ER Visit (High) visit in Alaska?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Alaska?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 99285)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $940 | $430 |
| 2 | New Hampshire Range: $150 – $446 | $294 |
| 3 | Illinois Range: $80 – $569 | $285 |
| 4 | Iowa Range: $85 – $538 | $275 |
| 5 | Louisiana Range: $98 – $536 | $261 |
| 6 | New York Range: $80 – $543 | $260 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $170 – $337 | $251 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $123 – $422 | $236 |
| 9 | Washington Range: $80 – $379 | $224 |
| 10 | Colorado Range: $80 – $390 | $219 |
| 11 | New Mexico Range: $88 – $389 | $218 |
| 12 | Wyoming Range: $88 – $385 | $217 |
| 13 | Vermont Range: $98 – $356 | $216 |
| 14 | Rhode Island Range: $80 – $429 | $202 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $80 – $428 | $202 |
| 16 | Georgia Range: $85 – $333 | $198 |
| 17 | North Carolina Range: $80 – $330 | $188 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $85 – $305 | $185 |
| 19 | Maryland Range: $88 – $298 | $183 |
| 20 | Michigan Range: $80 – $318 | $183 |
| 21 | Utah Range: $80 – $317 | $182 |
| 22 | New Jersey Range: $60 – $348 | $182 |
| 23 | Ohio Range: $85 – $287 | $181 |
| 24 | Mississippi Range: $126 – $250 | $181 |
| 25 | California Range: $80 – $374 | $181 |
| 26 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $313 | $179 |
| 27 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $282 | $178 |
| 28 | Virginia Range: $88 – $293 | $177 |
| 29 | Tennessee Range: $85 – $259 | $170 |
| 30 | South Carolina Range: $80 – $287 | $170 |
| 31 | Missouri Range: $88 – $239 | $168 |
| 32 | Minnesota Range: $91 – $312 | $167 |
| 33 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $246 | $166 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $88 – $243 | $166 |
| 35 | Alabama Range: $80 – $257 | $160 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $334 | $159 |
| 37 | Arizona Range: $80 – $250 | $157 |
| 38 | Indiana Range: $85 – $298 | $157 |
| 39 | West Virginia Range: $88 – $281 | $155 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $85 – $203 | $155 |
| 41 | Kentucky Range: $80 – $296 | $155 |
| 42 | Nevada Range: $85 – $267 | $154 |
| 43 | Alaska Range: $80 – $292 | $151 |
| 44 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $320 | $148 |
| 45 | Idaho Range: $80 – $275 | $148 |
| 46 | Oregon Range: $80 – $250 | $142 |
| 47 | Texas Range: $80 – $257 | $142 |
| 48 | Montana Range: $80 – $213 | $124 |
| 49 | North Dakota Range: $91 – $177 | $122 |
| 50 | South Dakota Range: $98 – $161 | $119 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $246 | $114 |