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South Carolina

Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in South Carolina

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

South Carolina's emergency departments see higher rates of uninsured patients compared to the national average, making cost transparency for ER Visit (Moderate) services particularly important for state residents. Based on negotiated insurance rates from over 2,475 active emergency providers across South Carolina, patients typically pay between $80 and $206 for a moderate-severity emergency room visit, with a median cost of $98. You can browse all ER Visit (Moderate) providers throughout South Carolina to find the most affordable option for your specific insurance plan.

Average

$128

Median

$98

Lowest

$80

Highest

$206

Providers

2,475

National avg: $142South Carolina: $128

10% below national average

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Compare Similar Procedures

How does er visit (moderate severity) compare to related procedures in South Carolina?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$51$69$1282,412
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$80$143$2872,436

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.

Why ER Visit (Moderate) Visit Costs Vary Across South Carolina

South Carolina's emergency care costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall cost of living and competitive insurance market dynamics. The state's mix of large health systems and independent hospitals creates pricing variation, particularly between Charleston and Columbia metropolitan areas versus rural Lowcountry and Upstate regions.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Charleston and Columbia metro areas have concentrated emergency department options with multiple competing health systems, while rural counties in the Pee Dee and lower Upstate regions often have single-hospital markets. This geographic disparity creates significant cost differences, with rural facilities sometimes charging premium rates due to limited competition and higher operational costs per patient.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Large health systems like MUSC Health, Prisma Health, and McLeod Health operate most emergency departments in South Carolina, with higher facility fees reflecting their teaching hospital status and advanced trauma capabilities. Independent community hospitals typically offer lower facility fees but may transfer complex cases, potentially generating additional transport and facility charges.

Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina holds significant market share alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, creating moderate insurer competition that helps negotiate reasonable emergency care rates. The state's regulatory environment allows insurers flexibility in network design, leading to variation in negotiated rates between health systems and geographic regions.

Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina

With over 2,475 emergency medicine providers serving the state, South Carolina maintains adequate physician supply in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution affects both wait times and pricing, with rural emergency departments sometimes offering higher physician compensation that translates to increased patient costs.

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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 (Moderate) Costs in South Carolina

What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in South Carolina without insurance?

Uninsured patients in South Carolina typically pay between $80 and $206 for a moderate-severity emergency room visit, with a median cost of $98 based on negotiated insurance rates. Many hospitals offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% when bills are paid promptly, potentially reducing these costs significantly. Payment plans are also widely available to help spread emergency care costs over several months without interest charges.

Does South Carolina Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?

South Carolina Medicaid covers emergency department visits when medically necessary, but the state has not expanded Medicaid eligibility, leaving many working adults without coverage. Eligible recipients include pregnant women, children, elderly, and disabled individuals who meet strict income requirements. Covered emergency visits typically require minimal or no copayment, making Medicaid one of the most comprehensive coverage options for emergency care when available.

How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Moderate) near me in South Carolina?

Compare facility fees between large health systems like MUSC Health and Prisma Health versus smaller community hospitals, as costs can vary by over $125 for the same service. Ask about self-pay discounts if uninsured, and consider urgent care centers for moderate conditions that don't require full emergency department resources. Community health centers in Charleston, Columbia, and other cities also provide urgent care services at reduced rates for qualifying patients.

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

Emergency departments typically charge the same facility fee and physician fee structure regardless of whether it's your first visit or a return visit for the same condition. The moderate-severity visit cost of $80-$206 applies to each separate emergency department encounter. Follow-up care is usually referred to primary care physicians or specialists, which have different, typically lower cost structures than emergency department visits.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in South Carolina?

Yes, emergency department visits qualify as eligible medical expenses under both Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) rules. You can use pre-tax dollars from these accounts to pay for emergency care copays, deductibles, and any out-of-pocket costs. Keep receipts and documentation of the medical necessity of your emergency visit for tax and reimbursement purposes.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Moderate) in South Carolina?

Telemedicine cannot replace emergency department care for moderate-severity conditions requiring physical examination, diagnostic testing, or immediate intervention. However, virtual urgent care consultations costing $50-$100 can help determine whether your symptoms truly require emergency department evaluation. South Carolina expanded telehealth coverage during the pandemic, and many insurers now cover virtual consultations that might prevent unnecessary emergency visits.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$82
$311

Office visit (CPT 99284)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage↓
1Wisconsin
Range: $73 – $647
$311
2Illinois
Range: $80 – $431
$223
3Iowa
Range: $80 – $371
$205
4New Hampshire
Range: $102 – $307
$202
5Pennsylvania
Range: $55 – $431
$191
6New York
Range: $67 – $374
$183
7Rhode Island
Range: $62 – $374
$177
8Maine
Range: $116 – $233
$172
9Massachusetts
Range: $62 – $368
$170
10Nebraska
Range: $83 – $291
$165
11Washington
Range: $80 – $259
$161
12Michigan
Range: $80 – $291
$158
13New Mexico
Range: $85 – $266
$158
14Wyoming
Range: $85 – $262
$157
15Colorado
Range: $80 – $267
$157
16Vermont
Range: $80 – $257
$156
17Georgia
Range: $84 – $246
$151
18California
Range: $80 – $258
$142
19Indiana
Range: $80 – $258
$142
20Kentucky
Range: $70 – $246
$140
21North Carolina
Range: $80 – $231
$139
22District of Columbia
Range: $80 – $217
$138
23West Virginia
Range: $62 – $174
$137
24Utah
Range: $80 – $228
$135
25Maryland
Range: $80 – $206
$132
26New Jersey
Range: $60 – $237
$131
27Hawaii
Range: $80 – $217
$130
28Arkansas
Range: $80 – $194
$130
29Virginia
Range: $81 – $202
$129
30Tennessee
Range: $85 – $187
$128
31South Carolina
Range: $80 – $206
$128
32Ohio
Range: $75 – $197
$127
33Missouri
Range: $85 – $167
$124
34Alabama
Range: $80 – $195
$124
35Oklahoma
Range: $85 – $169
$123
36Kansas
Range: $86 – $167
$123
37Texas
Range: $80 – $196
$122
38Arizona
Range: $80 – $187
$122
39Mississippi
Range: $86 – $165
$121
40Idaho
Range: $80 – $194
$121
41Delaware
Range: $80 – $157
$120
42Minnesota
Range: $62 – $233
$119
43Nevada
Range: $84 – $184
$119
44Connecticut
Range: $55 – $211
$118
45Alaska
Range: $80 – $194
$118
46Louisiana
Range: $62 – $150
$104
47Oregon
Range: $62 – $183
$102
48Montana
Range: $62 – $145
$96
49Florida
Range: $35 – $190
$95
50North Dakota
Range: $62 – $121
$82
51South Dakota
Range: $62 – $121
$82
ER Visit (Moderate Severity) in Other States
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming