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West Virginia

Cost of a ER Visit (Low) Visit
in West Virginia

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

West Virginia's rural healthcare infrastructure, with its heavy reliance on critical access hospitals, creates unique cost patterns for emergency services. For an ER Visit (Low) in West Virginia, patients typically pay between $40 and $115, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $40 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state has 419 active providers handling low-severity emergency visits, giving patients options across both urban centers and rural communities throughout West Virginia.

Average

$65

Median

$40

Lowest

$40

Highest

$115

Providers

419

National avg: $94West Virginia: $65

31% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Moderate Severity)

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

99284$62$174$1742,317
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$88$98$281412

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 99283Emergency 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 West Virginia

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

5/5
87% would recommend117 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend184 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend126 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend106 patient surveys
5/5
81% would recommend133 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 West Virginia

West Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's rural nature and lower cost of living compared to urban coastal areas. The state's mountainous terrain and scattered population centers create unique challenges for healthcare delivery, influencing both access and pricing patterns for emergency services.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

West Virginia's predominantly rural landscape means many residents rely on critical access hospitals for emergency care, which often operate with higher per-visit costs due to lower patient volumes. Urban areas like Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown offer more emergency care options including urgent care centers and hospital systems with dedicated emergency departments. The state's geography can require patients to travel significant distances for emergency care, particularly in the eastern panhandle and southern coalfield regions.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based emergency departments in West Virginia typically charge higher facility fees compared to urgent care centers, even for low-severity cases that could be handled in either setting. Major health systems like Charleston Area Medical Center and WVU Medicine operate comprehensive emergency departments with higher overhead costs. Freestanding emergency departments and urgent care centers often provide more cost-effective options for ER Visit (Low) cases that don't require full hospital resources.

Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia

West Virginia's insurance market shows limited competition with Highmark West Virginia, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna as the primary players, potentially affecting negotiated rate variations. The concentrated market can lead to less aggressive rate competition compared to states with more insurer options. Rural areas often have even fewer insurer choices, which can impact both premium costs and provider network adequacy for emergency services.

Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia

With 419 active providers handling ER Visit (Low) cases across West Virginia, the state maintains reasonable coverage despite ongoing physician shortages in rural areas. The provider count suggests adequate capacity in urban areas but potential strain in rural counties where emergency physicians may cover multiple facilities. West Virginia's ongoing efforts to recruit and retain healthcare providers affect both availability and pricing, particularly for emergency medicine specialists in underserved regions.

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 West Virginia

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

Without insurance, ER Visit (Low) visits in West Virginia typically range from $40 to $115 based on negotiated rates, though uninsured patients may face higher list prices. The median cost of $40 represents what insurers pay, but self-pay patients should ask about cash discounts which can significantly reduce these amounts. Many West Virginia hospitals offer charity care programs or payment plans to help uninsured patients manage emergency care costs.

Does West Virginia Medicaid cover ER Visit (Low) visits?

Yes, West Virginia Medicaid covers emergency visits since the state expanded Medicaid in 2014, providing coverage for low-income adults. Medicaid typically covers ER Visit (Low) services with minimal or no copays, though the program encourages using appropriate care settings when possible. Coverage includes necessary diagnostic tests and treatments provided during the emergency visit, making healthcare more accessible for qualifying West Virginia residents.

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

Compare costs between hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers in your area, as urgent care often provides more affordable options for low-severity cases. Many facilities in West Virginia offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% for uninsured patients who pay upfront or within 30 days. Community health centers throughout the state also provide emergency and urgent care services on sliding-scale fee schedules based on income.

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

Emergency departments typically charge the same facility fees regardless of whether it's your first visit or a follow-up for the same condition, with costs ranging from $40 to $115 for low-severity cases in West Virginia. However, follow-up care is often better handled through primary care physicians or specialists, which typically cost less than emergency department visits. The complexity of medical decision-making and time spent may affect the final billing, but emergency departments generally use standardized pricing for similar severity levels.

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

Yes, ER Visit (Low) visits qualify as eligible medical expenses that can be paid using Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds. These accounts allow you to use pre-tax dollars for emergency medical care, effectively reducing your out-of-pocket costs. Keep all receipts and documentation from your West Virginia emergency visit for HSA/FSA reimbursement purposes, as these are required for account administration.

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

While telemedicine cannot replace in-person emergency care for many conditions, virtual urgent care consultations in West Virginia typically cost $50-150, potentially helping you determine if emergency care is necessary. Some health systems offer telehealth triage services that can guide you to appropriate care settings, potentially avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits. West Virginia has expanded telehealth coverage since 2020, making virtual consultations more accessible for non-emergency medical questions that might otherwise lead to ER visits.

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