Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Tennessee
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Tennessee's emergency departments handle over 2.3 million visits annually, with high-severity cases representing the most resource-intensive encounters in the state's healthcare system. Patients seeking ER Visit (High) care typically pay between $85 and $259, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $168 based on negotiated insurance rates across Tennessee's 2,999 active emergency providers. With emergency departments spanning from Memphis trauma centers to rural Appalachian facilities, patients can browse all providers in Tennessee to find appropriate care for their critical medical needs.
Average
$170
Median
$168
Lowest
$85
Highest
$259
Providers
2,999
10% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in Tennessee?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $51 | $69 | $105 | 2,966 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $85 | $114 | $187 | 3,022 |
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 Tennessee
These hospitals in Tennessee are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
MOUNTAIN HOME, TN
MANCHESTER, TN
HUNTINGDON, TN
FRANKLIN, TN
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 Tennessee
Tennessee's emergency care costs run approximately 4% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall healthcare costs and more competitive provider market compared to coastal regions. The state's geographic diversity creates significant cost variations, with metropolitan trauma centers commanding premium rates while rural facilities offer more affordable emergency care options.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Tennessee's emergency care landscape spans from sophisticated Level I trauma centers in Nashville and Memphis to small critical access hospitals serving Appalachian communities, creating dramatic cost and capability differences across regions. Rural counties often struggle with emergency physician shortages, leading to higher per-visit costs and longer wait times during peak demand periods. Urban areas benefit from multiple emergency options and specialist availability, while rural residents may face longer transport times to appropriate high-severity care facilities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments in Tennessee's major health systems like HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare typically charge higher rates due to their advanced trauma capabilities and teaching responsibilities. Independent and critical access hospitals often offer more competitive pricing but may lack specialized services required for complex emergency cases. The state's concentration of for-profit hospital systems influences pricing strategies, with investor-owned facilities often charging premium rates compared to non-profit competitors.
Insurance Market Competition in Tennessee
Tennessee's moderate insurance competition among BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna creates negotiated rate variations that significantly impact patient costs for emergency visits. The state's individual marketplace offers limited carrier options in many counties, reducing competitive pressure on negotiated rates with emergency providers. Rural areas often have fewer insurance choices, leading to higher out-of-network risks and limited negotiating power with local emergency facilities.
Physician Supply and Demand in Tennessee
With 2,999 active emergency providers serving Tennessee's 6.9 million residents, the state maintains adequate emergency physician coverage in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates pricing pressure in underserved areas where emergency physicians can command higher compensation rates. Urban competition among emergency medicine groups helps moderate costs, while rural facilities often rely on expensive locum tenens physicians or telemedicine support, increasing overall visit costs.
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 Tennessee
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in Tennessee without insurance?
Does Tennessee Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in Tennessee?
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 |