Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Hawaii
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Hawaii's isolated island geography creates unique challenges for emergency care access, with patients in remote areas often traveling significant distances for specialized treatment. For ER Visit (High) services across the state, patients typically encounter negotiated insurance rates between $80 and $313, with a median cost of $145 based on data from 201 active providers. Hawaii maintains a robust network of emergency care specialists serving both urban centers and rural communities throughout the island chain.
Average
$179
Median
$145
Lowest
$80
Highest
$313
Providers
201
5% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Hawaii?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $54 | $66 | $139 | 175 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $80 | $93 | $217 | 178 |
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 Hawaii
Hawaii's emergency care costs run approximately 16% above national averages, reflecting the state's isolated island geography and higher operational costs for medical facilities. The concentration of specialized emergency services on Oahu creates access challenges for outer island residents, often requiring expensive inter-island medical transport for complex cases.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Honolulu's urban core maintains multiple full-service emergency departments with subspecialty backup, while rural areas on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai rely on smaller facilities with limited overnight coverage. Inter-island helicopter transport for high-severity cases can add thousands to treatment costs, though insurance typically covers medically necessary transfers. Geographic isolation means some patients face longer transport times to definitive care.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments dominate Hawaii's landscape, with Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Pacific Health, and Queen's Health Systems operating the major facilities across the islands. Independent urgent care centers handle lower-acuity cases but refer high-severity emergencies to hospital EDs. The state's limited competition among major health systems affects pricing structures for emergency services.
Insurance Market Competition in Hawaii
HMSA's dominant market position as the state's Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, along with Kaiser's integrated model and UHC's growing presence, creates moderate competition that influences negotiated emergency care rates. The state's geographic isolation limits insurer options compared to mainland markets, potentially affecting rate competition. Hawaii's regulatory environment requires insurance coverage for emergency services but doesn't mandate rate transparency.
Physician Supply and Demand in Hawaii
With 201 active ER Visit (High) providers serving Hawaii's population, the state maintains adequate emergency medicine coverage despite recruitment challenges common to island locations. Emergency physician shortages on outer islands occasionally require locum coverage or telemedicine consultation with Oahu-based specialists. The limited physician supply can contribute to higher costs, particularly for after-hours and weekend emergency coverage.
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 Hawaii
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Hawaii without insurance?
Does Hawaii Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Hawaii?
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 Hawaii?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Hawaii?
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 |