Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Illinois
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Illinois hospitals report some of the highest emergency department utilization rates in the Midwest, with Chicago-area facilities seeing particularly high volumes for moderate-severity cases. For an ER Visit (Moderate), patients typically pay between $80 and $431, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $158 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 14,600 active ER providers across Illinois, patients have extensive options for emergency care from major Chicago medical centers to community hospitals in smaller cities throughout the state.
Average
$223
Median
$158
Lowest
$80
Highest
$431
Providers
14,611
57% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (moderate severity) compare to related procedures in Illinois?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $57 | $90 | $252 | 15,690 |
| ER Visit (High Severity) Emergency department visit, high severity | 99285 | $80 | $206 | $569 | 13,925 |
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 Illinois
These hospitals in Illinois are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
GALENA, IL
CARTHAGE, IL
GIBSON CITY, IL
MONMOUTH, IL
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 Illinois
Illinois emergency care costs run approximately 10% above the national average, driven primarily by Chicago's high-cost healthcare market and the state's concentration of academic medical centers. The stark divide between Chicago-area pricing and downstate community hospitals creates significant cost variations within relatively short geographic distances.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Chicago's dense concentration of emergency departments contrasts sharply with rural Illinois counties where patients may face longer transport times to reach appropriate emergency care. Northern Illinois benefits from multiple competing health systems, while central and southern regions often rely on single community hospitals with less pricing competition. This geographic disparity affects both access and cost, with rural facilities sometimes offering lower base rates but potentially requiring transfers for complex cases.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major Chicago health systems like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and Rush University Medical Center operate high-overhead academic emergency departments with correspondingly higher facility fees. Independent community hospitals throughout Illinois typically offer more competitive pricing for moderate-severity visits, though they may have fewer subspecialty resources immediately available. The state's mix of Level I trauma centers and community emergency departments creates significant cost variation even within the same insurance network.
Insurance Market Competition in Illinois
The dominance of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna creates a relatively concentrated market that can influence negotiated rates with emergency providers. Chicago's competitive healthcare market provides insurers with leverage in rate negotiations, while rural areas with limited hospital options may see higher negotiated rates. The state's Medicaid expansion has increased insurer participation in emergency care networks, though reimbursement rates remain a concern for some providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois
With over 14,600 active emergency providers, Illinois maintains adequate emergency physician supply in most regions, though distribution favors urban areas. This robust provider network generally supports competitive pricing in metropolitan areas, while rural regions may face physician shortages that can affect both availability and cost. The state's multiple emergency medicine residency programs help maintain steady physician supply, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area.
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 Illinois
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in Illinois without insurance?
Does Illinois Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Moderate) near me in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Moderate) in Illinois?
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 |