Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Montana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Montana's vast geography and seasonal population fluctuations create unique challenges for emergency care access, with many rural counties relying on critical access hospitals for high-severity emergencies. For a ER Visit (High) visit in Montana, negotiated insurance rates typically range from $80 to $212, with a median cost of $80 based on data from 394 active providers statewide. Montana patients seeking emergency care for high-severity conditions can browse providers across the state's diverse healthcare landscape, from Billings Clinic to rural frontier hospitals.
Average
$124
Median
$80
Lowest
$80
Highest
$213
Providers
394
34% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Montana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $40 | $80 | $91 | 389 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $62 | $80 | $145 | 399 |
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 Montana
These hospitals in Montana are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
FORT HARRISON, MT
WHITEFISH, MT
MISSOULA, MT
ANACONDA, MT
GREAT FALLS, MT
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 Montana
Montana's emergency care costs run approximately 4% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and seasonal population variations that strain emergency resources. The Big Sky state's vast distances between facilities create unique cost pressures, with many rural hospitals serving as the only emergency option for hundreds of miles.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Montana's emergency care concentrates in cities like Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls, while frontier counties often rely on critical access hospitals with limited emergency capabilities. Rural emergency departments may need to transfer high-severity cases to urban trauma centers, adding transport costs and complexity. The state's geography means some residents face hour-long drives to reach comprehensive emergency care, affecting both access and pricing structures.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments dominate Montana's emergency care landscape, with major systems like Billings Clinic, Providence, and Community Medical Center operating the highest-level trauma centers. Critical access hospitals in rural areas often have different cost structures due to federal reimbursement programs and lower patient volumes. Facility fees at urban emergency departments typically exceed those at rural hospitals, though complex cases may require transfer to higher-level facilities.
Insurance Market Competition in Montana
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana holds significant market share, with PacificSource and UnitedHealthcare providing additional options, particularly in urban markets. Limited insurer competition in many rural counties can affect negotiated rates for emergency services. The state's relatively small population and geographic challenges create less competitive pressure on emergency care pricing compared to more densely populated states.
Physician Supply and Demand in Montana
With 394 emergency medicine providers reported statewide, Montana faces ongoing challenges recruiting emergency physicians to rural areas, creating supply-demand imbalances that can affect pricing. Many frontier counties struggle to maintain 24/7 emergency physician coverage, sometimes relying on family practitioners or physician assistants for emergency care. Urban areas like Billings and Missoula have better physician availability, leading to more stable pricing and shorter wait times for emergency services.
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 Montana
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Montana without insurance?
Does Montana Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Montana?
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 Montana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Montana?
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 |