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Washington

Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Washington

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Washington's emergency departments serve one of the nation's most geographically diverse populations, from Seattle's urban core to the remote Olympic Peninsula. ER Visit (Moderate) costs across the state typically range from $80 to $259, with a median negotiated rate of $143 based on transparency data from over 7,000 active providers. Washington maintains strong emergency care infrastructure with numerous in-network options for patients seeking moderate-severity emergency treatment throughout the Puget Sound region and beyond.

Average

$161

Median

$143

Lowest

$80

Highest

$259

Providers

7,139

National avg: $142Washington: $161

13% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$57$80$1677,024
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$80$214$3797,033

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 Washington

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

5/5
90% would recommend157 patient surveys
5/5
88% would recommend191 patient surveys
4/5
85% would recommend160 patient surveys
JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE

PORT TOWNSEND, WA

4/5
84% would recommend251 patient surveys
4/5
82% would recommend223 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 Washington

Washington's emergency care costs run approximately 10% above national averages, driven by the state's high cost of living and concentration of advanced medical facilities in urban corridors. The dramatic geography spanning from coastal regions to mountainous terrain creates unique access challenges that influence emergency care pricing and availability.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Seattle and Spokane metropolitan areas contain the majority of Washington's emergency departments, while rural counties like Ferry and Garfield rely on critical access hospitals with limited emergency capabilities. This geographic concentration forces rural residents to travel significant distances for complex emergency care, often resulting in higher transport costs and delayed treatment times.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based emergency departments in Washington carry higher overhead costs than freestanding emergency centers, particularly at major academic medical centers like UW Medicine and MultiCare Health System. These teaching hospitals maintain 24/7 specialist coverage and advanced diagnostic capabilities that increase operational costs but provide comprehensive care for moderate-severity emergencies.

Insurance Market Competition in Washington

Washington's competitive insurance landscape with Premera, Regence, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare creates varied negotiated rate structures for emergency services. The state's robust insurance exchange and strong regulatory environment help maintain competitive pricing, though urban markets typically see better negotiated rates due to higher patient volumes and provider competition.

Physician Supply and Demand in Washington

With over 7,000 emergency care providers across the state, Washington maintains adequate physician supply in metropolitan areas but faces shortages in rural emergency departments. This supply distribution affects both pricing and wait times, with rural emergency departments sometimes staffing physicians through temporary contracts that can increase per-visit costs while urban centers benefit from competitive physician markets.

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 Washington

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

Uninsured patients in Washington typically pay between $80 and $259 for moderate-severity emergency department visits, with a median cost of $143 based on negotiated rate data. Many hospitals offer cash-pay discounts of 30-50% when bills are paid promptly, and Washington's Charity Care Act requires hospitals to provide free or reduced-cost care for qualifying low-income patients.

Does Washington Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?

Yes, Washington's expanded Medicaid program covers emergency department visits with minimal copays, typically $3-8 for most beneficiaries. Coverage includes both the facility fee and physician services for moderate-severity emergencies, with no prior authorization required for genuine emergency conditions. Washington Medicaid also covers emergency transportation when medically necessary.

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

Compare costs across different hospital systems, as community hospitals often charge less than major medical centers for moderate-severity care. Many Washington hospitals offer financial assistance programs and payment plans, while freestanding emergency centers sometimes provide more transparent pricing than traditional hospital emergency departments. Community health centers with urgent care capabilities can also handle some moderate conditions at lower costs.

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

Emergency departments typically charge based on acuity level rather than visit type, with moderate-severity visits (CPT 99284) averaging $143 regardless of whether it's your first or subsequent visit to that facility. However, follow-up care for emergency conditions is usually handled by primary care physicians or specialists at significantly lower costs than repeat emergency visits, typically ranging from $200-400 for office-based follow-up appointments.

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

Yes, emergency department visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). This includes facility fees, physician services, diagnostic tests, and medications prescribed during your emergency visit. Keep all receipts and documentation, as these accounts require proper documentation for tax purposes and account administration.

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

While true emergencies require in-person evaluation, Washington's robust telemedicine infrastructure allows patients to consult with emergency medicine physicians remotely for symptom assessment and triage decisions. These virtual urgent care consultations typically cost $50-150 and can help determine whether an emergency department visit is necessary, potentially saving patients from unnecessary moderate-severity emergency charges. Many Washington insurers cover telemedicine consultations with minimal copays.

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