Logo
Utah

Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Utah

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Utah's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's competitive insurance market anchored by SelectHealth and relatively efficient provider networks. For a ER Visit (Moderate Severity), patients typically pay between $80 and $227, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $98. Utah maintains 513 active ER Visit (Moderate) providers across the state, offering patients substantial options from Salt Lake City's urban medical centers to rural community hospitals throughout the Intermountain region.

Average

$135

Median

$98

Lowest

$80

Highest

$228

Providers

513

National avg: $142Utah: $135

5% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$53$85$139511
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$80$150$317534

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 99284Emergency 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 Utah

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

5/5
85% would recommend108 patient surveys
CEDAR CITY HOSPITAL

CEDAR CITY, UT

5/5
84% would recommend219 patient surveys
CACHE VALLEY HOSPITAL

NORTH LOGAN, UT

4/5
85% would recommend104 patient surveys
4/5
84% would recommend872 patient surveys
PARK CITY HOSPITAL

PARK CITY, UT

4/5
83% would recommend230 patient surveys

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 Utah

Utah's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, benefiting from the state's competitive insurance marketplace and efficient provider networks concentrated along the Wasatch Front. The state's unique geography creates distinct cost patterns, with urban Salt Lake City and surrounding counties offering abundant provider options while rural areas face limited emergency care access and higher per-visit costs.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden metropolitan areas contain most of Utah's 513 ER Visit (Moderate) providers, creating competitive pricing and shorter wait times for patients. Rural counties in southern and eastern Utah have fewer emergency facilities, sometimes requiring patients to travel significant distances for specialized care. This geographic disparity affects costs, with rural facilities often charging higher rates due to lower patient volumes and higher operational overhead.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based emergency departments in Utah typically charge higher facility fees than urgent care centers or freestanding emergency facilities that can handle moderate-severity cases. Major health systems like Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health operate numerous emergency facilities with standardized pricing structures across their networks. Independent urgent care centers often offer lower-cost alternatives for moderate conditions that don't require full emergency department resources.

Insurance Market Competition in Utah

SelectHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah, and UnitedHealthcare dominate Utah's insurance market, creating competitive negotiated rates for emergency services. This multi-payer competition helps keep costs reasonable compared to states with less insurer competition. The presence of multiple strong regional and national insurers gives Utah providers stable reimbursement rates while encouraging competitive pricing.

Physician Supply and Demand in Utah

Utah's 513 active ER Visit (Moderate) providers create adequate supply for the state's population, particularly in urban areas along the Wasatch Front. This provider availability helps maintain reasonable pricing and reduces wait times for moderate-severity emergency cases. Rural areas experience physician shortages that can drive up costs, but telemedicine initiatives and mobile emergency services help bridge some access gaps.

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 (Moderate) Costs in Utah

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

Without insurance, a moderate-severity ER visit in Utah typically costs between $80 and $227, with a median cost of $98 based on negotiated rates from transparency files. Uninsured patients may pay higher list prices but can often negotiate cash-pay discounts of 20-40% or qualify for financial assistance programs. Many Utah hospitals offer payment plans to help manage emergency care costs for uninsured patients.

Does Utah Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?

Yes, Utah Medicaid covers emergency room visits for moderate-severity conditions when medically necessary, as Utah expanded Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Medicaid patients typically face minimal copays for emergency care at participating Utah hospitals. Prior authorization is not required for emergency visits, but patients should seek follow-up care through their assigned primary care provider when appropriate.

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

Compare costs between hospital emergency departments, urgent care centers, and freestanding emergency facilities, as urgent care centers often cost significantly less for moderate conditions. Look for facilities offering cash-pay discounts or payment plans if you're uninsured or have high-deductible insurance. Community health centers throughout Utah provide emergency and urgent care services on sliding fee scales based on income.

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

Emergency department visits are typically billed using CPT code 99284 for moderate-severity cases, with costs ranging from $80 to $227 regardless of whether it's your first visit to that facility. Follow-up care after an emergency visit should usually be handled by your primary care physician or a specialist at lower cost than returning to the emergency department. Emergency departments don't typically use the new patient versus established patient billing structure common in outpatient clinics.

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

Yes, emergency room visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when medically necessary. You can use HSA or FSA funds to pay deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for emergency care in Utah. Keep receipts and documentation of the medical necessity of your emergency visit for tax and account administration purposes.

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

Telemedicine cannot replace in-person emergency care for moderate-severity conditions requiring physical examination, diagnostic tests, or immediate treatment. However, virtual urgent care consultations cost significantly less than emergency visits and can help determine whether emergency care is necessary. Utah has expanded telehealth options that may help patients avoid unnecessary emergency visits for minor conditions that can be managed remotely.

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