Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in South Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Dakota's rural geography means emergency departments often serve as the primary access point for high-severity medical care across vast distances. Patients requiring a ER Visit (High) typically pay between $97 and $161, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $97 based on negotiated insurance rates. South Dakota maintains 350 active ER Visit (High) providers across the state, allowing patients to browse all available emergency care options throughout South Dakota's healthcare network.
Average
$119
Median
$98
Lowest
$98
Highest
$161
Providers
350
37% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in South Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $40 | $40 | $88 | 345 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $62 | $62 | $121 | 352 |
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 South Dakota
These hospitals in South Dakota are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
RAPID CITY, SD
SIOUX FALLS, SD
SIOUX FALLS, SD
DAKOTA DUNES, SD
SIOUX FALLS, SD
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 South Dakota
South Dakota's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above the national average, influenced by the state's rural geography and limited provider competition in many regions. The state's scattered population and vast distances between medical facilities create unique cost pressures for emergency services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Sioux Falls and Rapid City anchor South Dakota's emergency care network, with comprehensive medical centers serving large geographic regions. Rural areas rely heavily on critical access hospitals that may lack specialized emergency capabilities, often requiring expensive transfers to regional centers. The distance between facilities can drive up costs through ambulance transport and delay definitive care.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Sanford Health and Monument Health dominate South Dakota's hospital landscape, operating both major medical centers and rural facilities with varying cost structures. Critical access hospitals in rural areas face higher per-patient overhead costs due to lower volumes but federal reimbursement protections. Major health systems can leverage economies of scale but may charge premium rates for specialized emergency services.
Insurance Market Competition in South Dakota
Limited insurer competition between Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare reduces negotiating pressure on emergency care rates. Rural markets may have even fewer insurance options, giving dominant insurers significant leverage in rate negotiations. The lack of robust competition can result in higher negotiated rates that ultimately affect patient cost-sharing.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Dakota
South Dakota's 350 active emergency medicine providers serve a geographically dispersed population, creating coverage challenges in remote areas. Rural physician shortages mean some emergency departments rely on locum physicians or telemedicine consultations, potentially affecting costs. The maldistribution of providers between urban centers and rural areas can drive up wages and facility costs in underserved regions.
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 South Dakota
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in South Dakota without insurance?
Does South Dakota Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in South Dakota?
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 |
