Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Montana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Montana's vast rural geography creates unique challenges for emergency care access, with many residents traveling significant distances to reach facilities equipped for moderate-severity conditions. Patients seeking a ER Visit (Moderate) in Montana typically pay between $62 and $145, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $80 based on negotiated insurance rates. With 399 active providers across the state, patients can browse all available ER Visit (Moderate) options throughout Montana's healthcare network.
Average
$96
Median
$80
Lowest
$62
Highest
$145
Providers
399
33% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (moderate severity) compare to related procedures in Montana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $40 | $80 | $91 | 389 |
| ER Visit (High Severity) Emergency department visit, high severity | 99285 | $80 | $80 | $213 | 394 |
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 Montana
These hospitals in Montana are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
FORT HARRISON, MT
WHITEFISH, MT
MISSOULA, MT
ANACONDA, MT
GREAT FALLS, MT
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 Montana
Montana's emergency care costs run approximately 4% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and provider concentration in major cities. The extreme distances between facilities and limited specialist backup create unique cost pressures for moderate emergency cases.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Montana's vast rural areas often rely on critical access hospitals with limited emergency capabilities, while cities like Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls house the state's major emergency departments. This geographic disparity means rural patients may face higher costs due to air transport needs or longer treatment times. Urban facilities benefit from economies of scale and specialist availability that can reduce per-visit costs for moderate emergencies.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments dominate Montana's emergency care landscape, with higher overhead costs reflected in billing rates. Independent urgent care centers and freestanding emergency departments offer alternatives in urban areas but remain scarce in rural regions. Major health systems like Billings Clinic and Providence Montana control significant market share, influencing regional pricing patterns.
Insurance Market Competition in Montana
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana maintains the largest market presence, followed by PacificSource and UnitedHealthcare, creating moderate competition in urban areas. Rural regions often have even more limited insurer participation, reducing competitive pressure on emergency care rates. This concentration allows dominant insurers to negotiate more aggressively, though rural hospitals have limited alternatives for network participation.
Physician Supply and Demand in Montana
With 399 active emergency providers serving Montana's dispersed population, the state maintains adequate coverage in urban centers but faces shortages in frontier areas. This supply pattern creates higher demand and costs in rural regions where few alternatives exist. Emergency physician recruitment remains challenging due to Montana's isolation and lifestyle factors, contributing to upward pressure on compensation and patient costs.
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 Montana
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in Montana without insurance?
Does Montana Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Moderate) near me in Montana?
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 Montana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Moderate) in Montana?
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 |