Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's healthcare landscape reflects the state's unique geography, with emergency departments serving diverse communities from the Denver metropolitan corridor to remote mountain towns across the Rockies. For a ER Visit (Moderate) in Colorado, patients typically pay between $80 and $267, with a median cost of $123. The state's 1,987 active emergency medicine providers offer extensive coverage, though costs vary significantly by location and facility type.
Average
$157
Median
$123
Lowest
$80
Highest
$267
Providers
1,987
10% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (moderate severity) compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $54 | $85 | $159 | 1,888 |
| ER Visit (High Severity) Emergency department visit, high severity | 99285 | $80 | $186 | $390 | 1,884 |
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 99284 — Emergency department visit, 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 99284 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 99284 (Emergency department visit, moderate severity), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 99284 covers: the provider's professional fee for er visit (moderate 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 Colorado
These hospitals in Colorado are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
DURANGO, CO
FRISCO, CO
LAKEWOOD, CO
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
CORTEZ, CO
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why ER Visit (Moderate) Visit Costs Vary Across Colorado
Colorado's emergency care costs run approximately 13% above national averages, reflecting the state's geographic challenges, specialized mountain rescue capabilities, and higher cost of living in metro areas. The state's unique combination of urban medical centers and remote rural hospitals creates significant cost disparities based on location and facility capabilities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Denver's Front Range corridor concentrates multiple Level I trauma centers and specialty emergency services, while Colorado's Western Slope and Eastern Plains rely on critical access hospitals with limited specialist coverage. Rural emergency departments often transfer complex cases to urban centers, adding transport costs and potential billing from multiple providers. Mountain communities face seasonal patient volume fluctuations during ski season and summer recreation periods, affecting staffing costs and availability.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like UCHealth, Presbyterian/Saint Joseph, and SCL Health operate high-volume emergency departments with extensive support services, resulting in higher facility fees but comprehensive capabilities. Independent and rural hospitals typically charge lower facility fees but may have limited diagnostic and treatment options for moderate-severity cases. Colorado's mountain hospitals face unique overhead costs related to helicopter transport capabilities and specialized equipment for altitude-related emergencies.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
Strong competition among UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, and Kaiser Permanente has created diverse network options and competitive negotiated rates across Colorado's emergency care market. The state's insurance exchange offers multiple carrier choices in most regions, though some rural areas have limited insurer participation affecting network availability. Competitive market dynamics have helped moderate emergency care cost increases compared to states with less insurer competition.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
Colorado's 1,987 active emergency medicine providers represent adequate coverage for the state's population, though geographic distribution heavily favors urban areas along the Front Range. Rural physician shortages require many emergency departments to rely on locum tenens providers or telemedicine consultations, potentially affecting costs and continuity of care. The state's lifestyle appeal helps attract emergency physicians, but retention in rural areas remains challenging due to workload and compensation factors.
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 (Moderate) Costs in Colorado
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Moderate) near me in Colorado?
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 (Moderate) visit in Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Moderate) in Colorado?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 99284)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $647 | $311 |
| 2 | Illinois Range: $80 – $431 | $223 |
| 3 | Iowa Range: $80 – $371 | $205 |
| 4 | New Hampshire Range: $102 – $307 | $202 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $431 | $191 |
| 6 | New York Range: $67 – $374 | $183 |
| 7 | Rhode Island Range: $62 – $374 | $177 |
| 8 | Maine Range: $116 – $233 | $172 |
| 9 | Massachusetts Range: $62 – $368 | $170 |
| 10 | Nebraska Range: $83 – $291 | $165 |
| 11 | Washington Range: $80 – $259 | $161 |
| 12 | Michigan Range: $80 – $291 | $158 |
| 13 | New Mexico Range: $85 – $266 | $158 |
| 14 | Wyoming Range: $85 – $262 | $157 |
| 15 | Colorado Range: $80 – $267 | $157 |
| 16 | Vermont Range: $80 – $257 | $156 |
| 17 | Georgia Range: $84 – $246 | $151 |
| 18 | California Range: $80 – $258 | $142 |
| 19 | Indiana Range: $80 – $258 | $142 |
| 20 | Kentucky Range: $70 – $246 | $140 |
| 21 | North Carolina Range: $80 – $231 | $139 |
| 22 | District of Columbia Range: $80 – $217 | $138 |
| 23 | West Virginia Range: $62 – $174 | $137 |
| 24 | Utah Range: $80 – $228 | $135 |
| 25 | Maryland Range: $80 – $206 | $132 |
| 26 | New Jersey Range: $60 – $237 | $131 |
| 27 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $217 | $130 |
| 28 | Arkansas Range: $80 – $194 | $130 |
| 29 | Virginia Range: $81 – $202 | $129 |
| 30 | Tennessee Range: $85 – $187 | $128 |
| 31 | South Carolina Range: $80 – $206 | $128 |
| 32 | Ohio Range: $75 – $197 | $127 |
| 33 | Missouri Range: $85 – $167 | $124 |
| 34 | Alabama Range: $80 – $195 | $124 |
| 35 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $169 | $123 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $86 – $167 | $123 |
| 37 | Texas Range: $80 – $196 | $122 |
| 38 | Arizona Range: $80 – $187 | $122 |
| 39 | Mississippi Range: $86 – $165 | $121 |
| 40 | Idaho Range: $80 – $194 | $121 |
| 41 | Delaware Range: $80 – $157 | $120 |
| 42 | Minnesota Range: $62 – $233 | $119 |
| 43 | Nevada Range: $84 – $184 | $119 |
| 44 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $211 | $118 |
| 45 | Alaska Range: $80 – $194 | $118 |
| 46 | Louisiana Range: $62 – $150 | $104 |
| 47 | Oregon Range: $62 – $183 | $102 |
| 48 | Montana Range: $62 – $145 | $96 |
| 49 | Florida Range: $35 – $190 | $95 |
| 50 | North Dakota Range: $62 – $121 | $82 |
| 51 | South Dakota Range: $62 – $121 | $82 |