Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Arizona
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Arizona's emergency departments handle over 2.1 million visits annually, with high-severity cases representing the most resource-intensive treatments across the state's diverse urban and rural landscape. Patients seeking an ER Visit (High) in Arizona typically pay between $80 and $250, with a median negotiated rate of $142 for the most complex emergency evaluations. With over 6,500 active ER Visit (High) providers throughout Arizona's hospital systems, patients can browse all available emergency care options to find the most suitable facility for their critical healthcare needs.
Average
$157
Median
$142
Lowest
$80
Highest
$250
Providers
6,577
17% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Arizona?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $53 | $72 | $107 | 6,402 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $80 | $98 | $187 | 7,258 |
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.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Arizona
These hospitals in Arizona are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
PHOENIX, AZ
MESA, AZ
GOODYEAR, AZ
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why ER Visit (High) Visit Costs Vary Across Arizona
Arizona's healthcare costs run approximately 5% above the national average, driven by the state's rapid population growth and concentration of retirees requiring more intensive emergency services. The state's vast geography creates significant disparities between urban emergency departments in Phoenix and Tucson versus rural critical access hospitals serving remote communities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Arizona's emergency care is heavily concentrated in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, where major health systems like Banner Health and Dignity Health operate multiple high-volume emergency departments. Rural counties often rely on critical access hospitals with limited emergency capabilities, requiring patient transfers for high-severity cases. This geographic disparity affects both access times and costs, as rural hospitals must maintain emergency services despite lower patient volumes.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large hospital systems dominate Arizona's emergency care landscape, with Banner Health operating over 25 emergency departments statewide and maintaining higher overhead costs due to trauma center capabilities and teaching responsibilities. Independent emergency departments and freestanding emergency centers offer alternatives in some urban areas with potentially lower facility fees. Academic medical centers like those affiliated with University of Arizona charge premium rates due to their research missions and specialized equipment.
Insurance Market Competition in Arizona
Strong competition among UHC, BCBS AZ, and Aetna creates diverse negotiated rate structures for emergency services across Arizona providers. The state's competitive marketplace generally keeps insurance premiums moderate, though emergency care remains a high-cost service category. Regional insurers and health plans often have stronger networks with specific hospital systems, affecting patient costs depending on their coverage choice.
Physician Supply and Demand in Arizona
With over 6,500 active ER Visit (High) providers, Arizona maintains adequate emergency physician coverage in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The state's growing population and aging demographics increase demand for emergency services faster than physician supply can expand. Emergency medicine residency programs at Arizona universities help maintain workforce levels, though competition for experienced emergency physicians keeps salaries and associated patient costs elevated.
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 Arizona
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Arizona without insurance?
Does Arizona Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Arizona?
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 Arizona?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Arizona?
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 |