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Idaho

Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Idaho

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Idaho's rural healthcare landscape means emergency services are often concentrated in larger cities, creating significant cost variations for high-severity ER visits across the state. Patients seeking ER Visit (High) services typically pay between $80 and $275, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $88 according to negotiated insurance rates. With 299 active providers offering emergency services throughout Idaho, patients have multiple options when selecting where to receive urgent care.

Average

$148

Median

$88

Lowest

$80

Highest

$275

Providers

299

National avg: $189Idaho: $148

22% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Idaho?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$60$85$142295
ER Visit (Moderate Severity)

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

99284$80$88$194296

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 99285Emergency 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 Idaho

These hospitals in Idaho are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.

5/5
90% would recommend272 patient surveys
5/5
86% would recommend108 patient surveys
5/5
85% would recommend520 patient surveys
5/5
72% would recommend188 patient surveys
4/5
89% would recommend355 patient surveys

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 Idaho

Idaho's emergency care costs run approximately 3% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and rural healthcare economics. The concentration of major medical centers in Boise and a few other urban areas creates distinct pricing tiers across the state's diverse geographic regions.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Idaho's vast rural territories mean many residents must travel significant distances to reach facilities equipped for high-severity emergency cases, often to Boise, Pocatello, or Coeur d'Alene. Rural critical access hospitals may stabilize patients before transferring them to larger facilities, creating additional transport costs and potentially higher overall expenses for complex emergency care.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Major health systems like Saint Alphonsus Health System and Kootenai Health operate the state's largest emergency departments with higher overhead costs but more comprehensive capabilities. Independent and rural hospitals often have lower facility fees but may lack specialized equipment or specialists for certain high-acuity conditions, potentially requiring costly transfers.

Insurance Market Competition in Idaho

The limited number of major insurers in Idaho, primarily Regence BlueCross and PacificSource, creates less competitive pressure on negotiated rates compared to more densely populated states. This concentrated market structure can result in less variation in emergency care pricing between different insurance plans within the same geographic area.

Physician Supply and Demand in Idaho

With 299 active providers offering emergency services across Idaho, the state maintains adequate coverage for its population, though distribution favors urban areas. This provider supply helps maintain competitive pricing in major cities while rural areas may see higher costs due to limited alternatives and the challenges of recruiting emergency physicians to remote locations.

JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — ER Visit (High) Costs in Idaho

What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Idaho without insurance?

Without insurance, high-severity emergency room visits in Idaho typically cost between $80 and $275, with a median cost of $88 based on negotiated insurance rates. However, uninsured patients may face higher list prices, though many Idaho hospitals offer cash-pay discounts and charity care programs. Rural hospitals often provide more flexible payment options recognizing the financial burden on patients traveling long distances for emergency care.

Does Idaho Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?

Yes, Idaho Medicaid covers emergency room visits including high-severity cases, as the state expanded Medicaid coverage in 2020. Coverage includes the emergency room facility fee, physician services, and necessary tests or procedures performed during the visit. Medicaid patients should present their card at registration, though emergency departments must provide care regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Idaho?

Compare costs between major hospital systems like Saint Alphonsus and Kootenai Health, as facility fees can vary significantly even for the same level of care. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, as many Idaho hospitals offer substantial reductions for prompt payment. Consider whether your condition might be appropriately treated at an urgent care center instead, which typically costs much less than emergency departments.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Emergency departments don't typically distinguish between initial and follow-up visits in the same way that specialist offices do, as each emergency visit is treated as a separate acute episode. However, the complexity and resources used during your visit determine the final cost, with high-severity visits requiring more extensive evaluation and testing. Return visits for the same condition may involve different levels of care depending on your symptoms and response to initial treatment.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a ER Visit (High) visit in Idaho?

Yes, emergency room visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay for emergency room facility fees, physician services, and any tests or procedures performed during your visit. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes, as these accounts may require itemized statements showing the medical nature of expenses.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Idaho?

Telemedicine cannot replace in-person emergency care for high-severity conditions requiring immediate medical intervention, physical examination, or emergency procedures. However, telehealth consultations can help determine whether your symptoms warrant emergency room treatment or might be managed through urgent care or primary care visits. Idaho's rural geography makes telemedicine particularly valuable for initial triage, potentially saving unnecessary expensive emergency room visits for conditions that don't require immediate in-person care.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$114
$430

Office visit (CPT 99285)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Wisconsin
Range: $73$940
$430
2New Hampshire
Range: $150$446
$294
3Illinois
Range: $80$569
$285
4Iowa
Range: $85$538
$275
5Louisiana
Range: $98$536
$261
6New York
Range: $80$543
$260
7Maine
Range: $170$337
$251
8Nebraska
Range: $123$422
$236
9Washington
Range: $80$379
$224
10Colorado
Range: $80$390
$219
11New Mexico
Range: $88$389
$218
12Wyoming
Range: $88$385
$217
13Vermont
Range: $98$356
$216
14Rhode Island
Range: $80$429
$202
15Massachusetts
Range: $80$428
$202
16Georgia
Range: $85$333
$198
17North Carolina
Range: $80$330
$188
18District of Columbia
Range: $85$305
$185
19Maryland
Range: $88$298
$183
20Michigan
Range: $80$318
$183
21Utah
Range: $80$317
$182
22New Jersey
Range: $60$348
$182
23Ohio
Range: $85$287
$181
24Mississippi
Range: $126$250
$181
25California
Range: $80$374
$181
26Hawaii
Range: $80$313
$179
27Arkansas
Range: $85$282
$178
28Virginia
Range: $88$293
$177
29Tennessee
Range: $85$259
$170
30South Carolina
Range: $80$287
$170
31Missouri
Range: $88$239
$168
32Minnesota
Range: $91$312
$167
33Oklahoma
Range: $85$246
$166
34Kansas
Range: $88$243
$166
35Alabama
Range: $80$257
$160
36Pennsylvania
Range: $55$334
$159
37Arizona
Range: $80$250
$157
38Indiana
Range: $85$298
$157
39West Virginia
Range: $88$281
$155
40Delaware
Range: $85$203
$155
41Kentucky
Range: $80$296
$155
42Nevada
Range: $85$267
$154
43Alaska
Range: $80$292
$151
44Connecticut
Range: $55$320
$148
45Idaho
Range: $80$275
$148
46Oregon
Range: $80$250
$142
47Texas
Range: $80$257
$142
48Montana
Range: $80$213
$124
49North Dakota
Range: $91$177
$122
50South Dakota
Range: $98$161
$119
51Florida
Range: $35$246
$114
ER Visit (High Severity) in Other States