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Utah

Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in Utah

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Utah's healthcare system serves a rapidly growing population with a unique mix of urban and rural communities, leading to varied emergency care costs across the state. For ER Visit (High) services, patients typically pay between $80 and $317, with a median negotiated rate of $150 among Utah's 534 active emergency providers. Patients can browse all emergency care providers throughout Utah to find the most cost-effective option for their high-severity visit needs.

Average

$182

Median

$150

Lowest

$80

Highest

$317

Providers

534

National avg: $189Utah: $182

3% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$53$85$139511
ER Visit (Moderate Severity)

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

99284$80$98$228513

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 Utah

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

5/5
85% would recommend108 patient surveys
CEDAR CITY HOSPITAL

CEDAR CITY, UT

5/5
84% would recommend219 patient surveys
CACHE VALLEY HOSPITAL

NORTH LOGAN, UT

4/5
85% would recommend104 patient surveys
4/5
84% would recommend872 patient surveys
PARK CITY HOSPITAL

PARK CITY, UT

4/5
83% would recommend230 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 Utah

Utah's emergency care costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's efficient healthcare delivery system and moderate cost of living compared to coastal regions. The Wasatch Front's concentration of major medical centers creates competitive pricing, while rural areas face higher costs due to limited provider density and transport challenges.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

The Wasatch Front corridor from Ogden to Provo contains the majority of Utah's emergency facilities, creating accessible care and competitive pricing for urban residents. Rural counties in southern and eastern Utah often rely on small critical access hospitals with higher per-visit costs but essential community access. Geographic isolation means rural patients may face longer transport times and higher overall emergency care expenses.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Major health systems like Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health operate large emergency departments with comprehensive services but higher overhead costs. Independent and smaller community hospitals often offer more competitive pricing for routine emergency visits. Freestanding emergency departments in suburban areas provide an alternative to traditional hospital EDs with potentially different cost structures.

Insurance Market Competition in Utah

SelectHealth, BCBS UT, and UHC dominate Utah's insurance market, creating moderate competition that influences negotiated emergency care rates. The presence of strong regional insurers like SelectHealth helps maintain competitive pricing through local market knowledge and provider relationships. Limited market concentration compared to other states prevents excessive rate increases while maintaining quality networks.

Physician Supply and Demand in Utah

With 534 active emergency care providers, Utah maintains adequate emergency physician supply relative to its population, helping stabilize costs and reduce wait times. The state's growing population and medical tourism from surrounding states creates steady demand for emergency services. Utah's physician-friendly practice environment attracts emergency medicine specialists, supporting competitive pricing and access across the state.

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 Utah

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

Without insurance, ER Visit (High) services in Utah range from $80 to $317, with a median cost of $150 based on negotiated rates from 534 providers statewide. Self-pay patients often receive discounts of 30-50% off standard charges, making the actual out-of-pocket cost potentially lower. Many Utah hospitals offer payment plans and financial assistance programs to help manage these costs for uninsured patients.

Does Utah Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?

Yes, Utah Medicaid covers emergency visits including high-severity cases, as the state expanded Medicaid eligibility to include more low-income adults. Coverage includes both the emergency department facility fees and physician services, though patients may have small copays depending on their specific Medicaid plan. Prior authorization is not required for emergency services, ensuring immediate access to care during medical crises.

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

Compare costs between hospital emergency departments and freestanding emergency rooms, as pricing can vary significantly across Utah's 534 emergency providers. Consider urgent care centers for conditions that seem serious but may not require high-level emergency intervention, as these facilities often cost 60-80% less. Ask about self-pay discounts and payment plans before treatment, and research community health centers that may offer sliding-scale emergency services.

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

Emergency department visits are typically billed at the same high-severity rate of $80-$317 regardless of whether it's your first visit or a follow-up for the same condition. However, follow-up care after an emergency visit usually transitions to outpatient specialist or primary care settings, which cost significantly less than repeat emergency visits. Most emergency departments recommend establishing care with appropriate specialists rather than using the ED for ongoing management of chronic conditions.

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

Yes, HSA and FSA funds can be used to pay for emergency room visits as they qualify as eligible medical expenses under IRS guidelines. This includes deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for emergency services, making these tax-advantaged accounts valuable for managing high emergency care costs. Keep all receipts and documentation for reimbursement, as emergency visits often generate multiple bills from different providers.

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

Telemedicine cannot replace high-severity emergency care that requires immediate hands-on intervention, diagnostic testing, or life-saving procedures. However, virtual urgent care consultations costing $50-150 can help determine whether symptoms warrant emergency department evaluation, potentially avoiding unnecessary high-cost visits. Utah's telemedicine infrastructure allows 24/7 access to medical advice that can guide appropriate care decisions during health crises.

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