Cost of a ER Visit (High) Visit
in West Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
West Virginia faces significant emergency care challenges with some of the nation's highest rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications requiring high-severity emergency interventions. Patients seeking an ER Visit (High) in the Mountain State typically pay between $88 and $281, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $98 based on negotiated insurance rates. West Virginia maintains 412 active ER Visit (High) providers across its 55 counties, allowing patients to browse all available emergency care options throughout the state.
Average
$155
Median
$98
Lowest
$88
Highest
$281
Providers
412
18% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (high severity) compare to related procedures in West Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $40 | $40 | $115 | 419 |
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $62 | $174 | $174 | 2,317 |
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 West Virginia
These hospitals in West Virginia are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
MADISON, WV
BECKLEY, WV
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV
ROMNEY, WV
WELCH, WV
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 West Virginia
West Virginia's emergency care costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living but higher rates of chronic conditions requiring complex emergency interventions. The Mountain State's challenging geography creates unique access patterns, with some residents traveling over an hour to reach the nearest emergency facility.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston and Morgantown host the state's major trauma centers with comprehensive emergency services, while rural counties often rely on critical access hospitals with more limited capabilities. The 45-mile average distance between emergency facilities in rural West Virginia creates higher transport costs and staffing premiums that affect overall pricing. Remote emergency departments often charge higher rates due to difficulty recruiting and retaining emergency physicians in isolated mountain communities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments in West Virginia typically charge higher facility fees than urgent care centers, with academic medical centers like WVU Medicine commanding premium rates for complex cases. Independent community hospitals often offer more competitive pricing but may transfer high-severity cases to larger facilities, potentially creating additional costs. The state's aging hospital infrastructure requires ongoing capital investments that influence emergency department pricing across all facility types.
Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia
Highmark West Virginia dominates the state's insurance landscape alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, creating moderate competition that helps control emergency care costs. The relatively concentrated market allows insurers to negotiate favorable rates with West Virginia's limited number of hospital systems. Rural areas often have fewer insurer options, which can result in less competitive pricing for emergency services in remote regions.
Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia
West Virginia's 412 active ER Visit (High) providers serve a population of 1.8 million, indicating adequate emergency physician coverage in urban areas but potential shortages in rural counties. The state's medical school pipeline and residency programs help maintain emergency physician supply, though recruitment to rural areas remains challenging. This geographic maldistribution contributes to higher costs in underserved regions where emergency departments must offer premium compensation to attract qualified physicians.
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 West Virginia
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (High) visit in West Virginia without insurance?
Does West Virginia Medicaid cover ER Visit (High) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (High) near me in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (High) in West Virginia?
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 |