Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia operates as the nation's only federal district healthcare market, creating unique cost dynamics where high-acuity emergency care serves both residents and federal employees through specialized networks. ER Visit (High) visits in DC typically range from $85 to $305, with a median cost of $165, reflecting the district's concentrated provider landscape and federal healthcare influence. With 480 active ER Visit (High) providers serving the district, patients have access to some of the nation's most advanced emergency medical facilities, and can browse all available providers throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
Average
$185
Median
$165
Lowest
$85
Highest
$305
Providers
480
2% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $49 | $85 | $142 | 489 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $80 | $119 | $217 | 496 |
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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, reflecting the federal district's unique position as a concentrated urban market with high provider overhead and federal healthcare influences. The district's compact geography and dense population create intense demand for emergency services while limiting geographic cost variation.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
As a fully urban federal district, DC lacks the rural-urban cost disparities seen in states, instead featuring neighborhood-level variations based on hospital prestige and federal proximity. Emergency departments in downtown DC and near federal buildings often command premium rates due to their strategic locations and federal contracting relationships. The district's small size means most residents have access to multiple emergency facilities within a short distance, though traffic patterns can affect true accessibility.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major health systems like MedStar and Children's National dominate DC's emergency landscape, with hospital-owned emergency departments carrying higher overhead costs than standalone facilities. Academic medical centers affiliated with George Washington University and Georgetown University often charge premium rates due to their teaching hospital status and research missions. The federal government's presence also influences facility costs, as many providers maintain contracts to serve federal employees and visitors.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
CareFirst BCBS, UHC, and Aetna control most of the district's commercial insurance market, creating moderate competition that influences emergency care rates. The substantial federal employee population carries FEHB plans that often negotiate separate rate structures with local providers. This concentrated but diverse payer mix allows emergency departments to maintain higher rates than might be sustainable in more competitive markets.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With 480 active ER Visit (High) providers serving the district's 700,000 residents plus substantial commuter and visitor populations, DC maintains one of the nation's highest emergency physician-to-population ratios. This robust supply should theoretically moderate costs, but the district's unique patient mix including federal employees, international visitors, and complex urban health needs supports premium pricing. High provider density does translate to shorter wait times and better access for most non-critical emergency cases.
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 District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in District of Columbia?
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 |