Cost of a ER Visit (Low) Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia maintains the nation's highest concentration of healthcare facilities per capita, creating unique market dynamics for emergency care pricing. For a ER Visit (Low) visit, DC patients typically face costs ranging from $49 to $142, with a median negotiated rate of $85 based on current insurer contracts. The District's 489 active ER Visit (Low) providers serve both residents and the substantial federal workforce, allowing patients to compare options across multiple health systems when seeking non-urgent emergency care.
Average
$92
Median
$85
Lowest
$49
Highest
$142
Providers
489
2% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (low severity) compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Moderate Severity) Emergency department visit, moderate severity | 99284 | $80 | $119 | $217 | 496 |
| ER Visit (High Severity) Emergency department visit, high severity | 99285 | $85 | $165 | $305 | 480 |
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 99283 — Emergency department visit, low to moderate 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 99283 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 99283 (Emergency department visit, low to moderate severity), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 99283 covers: the provider's professional fee for er visit (low 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.
Why ER Visit (Low) Visit Costs Vary Across District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, driven by high real estate costs, premium labor markets, and the concentration of prestigious medical institutions. The city's unique federal district status creates distinct market pressures absent in traditional state healthcare systems.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
District of Columbia's entirely urban geography eliminates rural access disparities but creates intense competition for prime medical real estate. The concentration of providers within a 68-square-mile area allows for extensive patient choice but drives up overhead costs through premium facility leasing and staffing expenses. This density paradoxically increases costs while improving access times and service availability.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments dominate DC's landscape, with major players including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, George Washington University Hospital, and Georgetown University Hospital commanding premium rates. Independent urgent care centers provide cost-effective alternatives for low-severity conditions, though their market share remains smaller than hospital-affiliated facilities. Academic medical center overhead costs significantly influence regional pricing benchmarks.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
CareFirst BCBS maintains regional dominance alongside national players UHC and Aetna, creating moderate competition that keeps negotiated rates competitive but elevated due to local cost pressures. The substantial federal employee population provides stable, well-insured demand that supports premium pricing structures. Limited geographic area concentrates negotiating power among fewer health systems compared to larger states.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With 489 active ER Visit (Low) providers serving approximately 700,000 residents, District of Columbia maintains strong physician availability that exceeds most national benchmarks. This robust supply reflects the city's appeal to medical professionals and proximity to top-tier training programs, though high living costs require elevated compensation packages. The favorable supply-demand ratio helps moderate wait times despite maintaining premium pricing structures.
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 (Low) Costs in District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Low) visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover ER Visit (Low) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Low) near me in District of Columbia?
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 (Low) visit in District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Low) in District of Columbia?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 99283)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania Range: $47 – $693 | $271 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Range: $56 – $355 | $180 |
| 3 | Illinois Range: $57 – $252 | $133 |
| 4 | Maine Range: $86 – $184 | $131 |
| 5 | New Hampshire Range: $59 – $204 | $130 |
| 6 | Michigan Range: $54 – $252 | $126 |
| 7 | Iowa Range: $44 – $218 | $119 |
| 8 | Rhode Island Range: $40 – $204 | $111 |
| 9 | California Range: $80 – $153 | $107 |
| 10 | Vermont Range: $53 – $171 | $107 |
| 11 | Indiana Range: $57 – $171 | $105 |
| 12 | New York Range: $47 – $202 | $105 |
| 13 | Washington Range: $57 – $167 | $101 |
| 14 | Colorado Range: $54 – $159 | $99 |
| 15 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $155 | $97 |
| 16 | Idaho Range: $60 – $142 | $96 |
| 17 | Nebraska Range: $44 – $171 | $95 |
| 18 | Massachusetts Range: $40 – $206 | $95 |
| 19 | Utah Range: $53 – $139 | $93 |
| 20 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $142 | $92 |
| 21 | Maryland Range: $43 – $162 | $91 |
| 22 | Connecticut Range: $53 – $153 | $90 |
| 23 | Georgia Range: $53 – $143 | $90 |
| 24 | Alaska Range: $69 – $118 | $89 |
| 25 | New Mexico Range: $54 – $139 | $88 |
| 26 | Kentucky Range: $40 – $139 | $88 |
| 27 | Hawaii Range: $54 – $139 | $87 |
| 28 | Texas Range: $54 – $118 | $86 |
| 29 | North Carolina Range: $51 – $136 | $85 |
| 30 | New Jersey Range: $44 – $142 | $84 |
| 31 | South Carolina Range: $51 – $128 | $83 |
| 32 | Arkansas Range: $51 – $115 | $81 |
| 33 | Nevada Range: $60 – $108 | $81 |
| 34 | Alabama Range: $49 – $131 | $80 |
| 35 | Virginia Range: $47 – $119 | $79 |
| 36 | Arizona Range: $53 – $107 | $77 |
| 37 | Ohio Range: $43 – $117 | $77 |
| 38 | Minnesota Range: $40 – $145 | $75 |
| 39 | Tennessee Range: $51 – $105 | $75 |
| 40 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $104 | $75 |
| 41 | Delaware Range: $60 – $90 | $74 |
| 42 | Missouri Range: $52 – $99 | $74 |
| 43 | Mississippi Range: $51 – $104 | $73 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $40 – $91 | $70 |
| 45 | Kansas Range: $51 – $91 | $70 |
| 46 | Florida Range: $35 – $110 | $67 |
| 47 | West Virginia Range: $40 – $115 | $65 |
| 48 | Louisiana Range: $40 – $87 | $63 |
| 49 | Oregon Range: $40 – $108 | $63 |
| 50 | North Dakota Range: $40 – $91 | $57 |
| 51 | South Dakota Range: $40 – $88 | $56 |