Logo
Idaho

Cost of a ER Visit (Low) Visit
in Idaho

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Idaho's rural healthcare landscape creates unique cost patterns for emergency care, with the state's 295 ER providers offering ER Visit (Low) services at rates approximately 3% below national averages. Patients typically pay between $59.72 and $141.87 for low-severity emergency room visits, with a median negotiated rate of $85.00 across Idaho's hospital systems and urgent care facilities. The state's many active ER Visit (Low) providers span from Boise's major medical centers to critical access hospitals in frontier communities, giving patients options to browse all providers in Idaho for cost-effective emergency care.

Average

$96

Median

$85

Lowest

$60

Highest

$142

Providers

295

National avg: $94Idaho: $96

2% above national average

HSA/FSA eligible

Always available primary care

Just $19.99/mo

Compare Similar Procedures

How does er visit (low severity) compare to related procedures in Idaho?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Moderate Severity)

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

99284$80$88$194296
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$80$88$275299

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.

Top-Rated Hospitals in Idaho

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

TREASURE VALLEY HOSPITAL

BOISE, ID

5/5
90% would recommend272 patient surveys
ST LUKE'S MCCALL

MCCALL, ID

5/5
86% would recommend108 patient surveys
BOISE VA MEDICAL CENTER

BOISE, ID

5/5
85% would recommend520 patient surveys
GRITMAN MEDICAL CENTER

MOSCOW, ID

5/5
72% would recommend188 patient surveys
NORTHWEST SPECIALTY HOSPITAL

POST FALLS, ID

4/5
89% would recommend355 patient surveys

Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.

Why ER Visit (Low) Visit Costs Vary Across Idaho

Idaho's healthcare costs run approximately 3% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and rural provider economics. The state's geographic challenges create distinct cost patterns between urban centers like Boise and remote areas served by critical access hospitals.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Idaho's urban corridors around Boise, Coeur d'Alene, and Idaho Falls offer multiple emergency care options with competitive pricing, while rural counties often depend on single critical access hospitals with different cost structures. The state's vast geographic distances can limit patient choice and affect pricing power in frontier communities where emergency departments serve as the primary after-hours medical resource.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based emergency departments in Idaho typically charge higher facility fees than freestanding emergency centers or urgent care clinics, reflecting 24/7 staffing requirements and trauma readiness capabilities. Major health systems like Saint Alphonsus Health System and Kootenai Health operate most emergency departments, with their pricing influenced by teaching responsibilities, trauma center designations, and rural service obligations.

Insurance Market Competition in Idaho

Regence BlueCross and PacificSource dominate Idaho's commercial insurance market, creating a concentrated payer environment that can limit competitive pressure on emergency care pricing. The relatively few major insurers negotiate rates with emergency departments across the state, potentially leading to more standardized but less competitive pricing compared to markets with broader insurer competition.

Physician Supply and Demand in Idaho

With 295 active ER providers across Idaho, the state maintains adequate emergency physician coverage despite rural staffing challenges in some counties. This provider supply generally supports reasonable wait times and pricing stability, though recruitment difficulties in remote areas can create cost pressures for critical access hospitals that must offer competitive compensation packages to attract emergency medicine physicians.

HSA/FSA eligible

A doctor by your side, always

Prescriptions, lab orders, and referrals — instantly

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 (Low) Costs in Idaho

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

Uninsured patients in Idaho typically pay between $59.72 and $141.87 for low-severity emergency room visits, with a median cost of $85.00 based on negotiated rates from 295 providers statewide. These amounts represent what insurers pay and may be higher for cash-pay patients, though many hospitals offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% for uninsured individuals. Payment plans and financial assistance programs are commonly available through Idaho's major health systems for patients who qualify based on income.

Does Idaho Medicaid cover ER Visit (Low) visits?

Yes, Idaho Medicaid covers emergency room visits for low-severity conditions, with the state's Medicaid expansion providing coverage for adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Medicaid recipients typically have minimal or no copayment requirements for emergency services, though the program may review whether the visit was medically necessary for emergency department care. For non-emergency conditions, Medicaid encourages using urgent care or primary care when available to reduce costs and improve care coordination.

How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Low) near me in Idaho?

Compare costs between hospital emergency departments and freestanding emergency centers or urgent care facilities, as pricing can vary significantly based on facility type and location within Idaho. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider community health centers or federally qualified health centers for non-urgent conditions that might be appropriate for ER Visit (Low) care. Many rural areas have critical access hospitals that may offer different pricing structures than urban medical centers in cities like Boise or Coeur d'Alene.

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

The provided data shows ER Visit (Low) encounters at $59.72 to $141.87 with a median of $85.00, but emergency departments typically don't differentiate between initial and follow-up visit pricing like outpatient clinics do. Emergency room charges are based on the level of service provided and medical decision-making complexity rather than whether it's a new or returning patient encounter. Follow-up care for emergency conditions is usually handled through primary care or specialist offices with different pricing structures than emergency departments.

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

Yes, emergency room visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts. You can use these tax-advantaged accounts to pay for ER Visit (Low) services, related diagnostic tests, and prescription medications received during your emergency department visit. Keep receipts and documentation for tax purposes, as these accounts may require proof that expenses were for qualified medical care.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Low) in Idaho?

Telemedicine typically costs $50-150 per consultation, significantly less than emergency department visits, but cannot replace in-person emergency care for conditions requiring physical examination, diagnostic tests, or immediate intervention. Idaho has expanded telehealth access, particularly for rural areas where emergency departments may be distant, allowing patients to consult with providers who can determine whether emergency care is necessary. However, true emergency conditions still require in-person evaluation at an emergency department regardless of telehealth availability.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$56
$271

Office visit (CPT 99283)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage↓
1Pennsylvania
Range: $47 – $693
$271
2Wisconsin
Range: $56 – $355
$180
3Illinois
Range: $57 – $252
$133
4Maine
Range: $86 – $184
$131
5New Hampshire
Range: $59 – $204
$130
6Michigan
Range: $54 – $252
$126
7Iowa
Range: $44 – $218
$119
8Rhode Island
Range: $40 – $204
$111
9California
Range: $80 – $153
$107
10Vermont
Range: $53 – $171
$107
11Indiana
Range: $57 – $171
$105
12New York
Range: $47 – $202
$105
13Washington
Range: $57 – $167
$101
14Colorado
Range: $54 – $159
$99
15Wyoming
Range: $54 – $155
$97
16Idaho
Range: $60 – $142
$96
17Nebraska
Range: $44 – $171
$95
18Massachusetts
Range: $40 – $206
$95
19Utah
Range: $53 – $139
$93
20District of Columbia
Range: $49 – $142
$92
21Maryland
Range: $43 – $162
$91
22Connecticut
Range: $53 – $153
$90
23Georgia
Range: $53 – $143
$90
24Alaska
Range: $69 – $118
$89
25New Mexico
Range: $54 – $139
$88
26Kentucky
Range: $40 – $139
$88
27Hawaii
Range: $54 – $139
$87
28Texas
Range: $54 – $118
$86
29North Carolina
Range: $51 – $136
$85
30New Jersey
Range: $44 – $142
$84
31South Carolina
Range: $51 – $128
$83
32Arkansas
Range: $51 – $115
$81
33Nevada
Range: $60 – $108
$81
34Alabama
Range: $49 – $131
$80
35Virginia
Range: $47 – $119
$79
36Arizona
Range: $53 – $107
$77
37Ohio
Range: $43 – $117
$77
38Minnesota
Range: $40 – $145
$75
39Tennessee
Range: $51 – $105
$75
40Oklahoma
Range: $51 – $104
$75
41Delaware
Range: $60 – $90
$74
42Missouri
Range: $52 – $99
$74
43Mississippi
Range: $51 – $104
$73
44Montana
Range: $40 – $91
$70
45Kansas
Range: $51 – $91
$70
46Florida
Range: $35 – $110
$67
47West Virginia
Range: $40 – $115
$65
48Louisiana
Range: $40 – $87
$63
49Oregon
Range: $40 – $108
$63
50North Dakota
Range: $40 – $91
$57
51South Dakota
Range: $40 – $88
$56
ER Visit (Low Severity) in Other States
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming