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West Virginia

Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in West Virginia

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

West Virginia's mountainous geography and rural healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for emergency care access, with many patients traveling significant distances to reach facilities. For a ER Visit (Moderate), patients typically pay between $62 and $174, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $174 based on negotiated insurance rates from over 2,300 active providers statewide. Browse all ER Visit (Moderate) providers across West Virginia to compare costs and find the most convenient location for your needs.

Average

$137

Median

$174

Lowest

$62

Highest

$174

Providers

2,317

National avg: $142West Virginia: $137

4% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

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

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
ER Visit (Low Severity)

Emergency department visit, low severity

99283$40$40$115419
ER Visit (High Severity)

Emergency department visit, high severity

99285$88$98$281412

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 West Virginia

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

5/5
87% would recommend117 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend184 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend126 patient surveys
5/5
84% would recommend106 patient surveys
5/5
81% would recommend133 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 West Virginia

West Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and predominantly rural healthcare delivery model. The state's mountainous terrain and scattered population create unique access challenges that influence emergency care pricing and availability.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Charleston and Morgantown serve as the state's primary healthcare hubs with multiple emergency facilities, while rural counties often depend on single critical access hospitals for emergency care. Travel distances to emergency care can exceed 30 minutes in remote areas, leading some rural hospitals to maintain higher staffing costs relative to patient volume. The state's geography creates natural service areas that limit competition between emergency providers.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

WVU Medicine and Charleston Area Medical Center operate the state's major academic medical centers with higher overhead costs but comprehensive emergency capabilities. Rural critical access hospitals receive special Medicare reimbursements that help maintain emergency services in underserved areas, though with limited specialty backup. Freestanding emergency departments remain rare in West Virginia compared to other states, leaving hospital-based EDs as the primary option.

Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia

Limited insurer competition with Highmark West Virginia, UHC, and Aetna results in less aggressive rate negotiations compared to more competitive markets. The state's small population and rural geography make it less attractive to national insurers, reducing competitive pressure on emergency care pricing. Hospital systems maintain significant leverage in contract negotiations due to their essential role in rural communities.

Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia

With over 2,300 active emergency medicine providers reported in transparency data, West Virginia appears to maintain adequate emergency physician coverage relative to its population of 1.8 million residents. The state's medical school at WVU helps train emergency physicians, though many graduates leave for higher-paying markets in other states. Rural emergency departments often rely on contract physician groups or locum tenens providers, which can influence pricing variability.

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 West Virginia

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

Uninsured patients in West Virginia can expect to pay between $62 and $174 for a moderate-severity emergency visit, with a median cost of $174 based on negotiated insurance rates. These amounts reflect physician fees, with additional facility fees typically ranging from $500-2,000 depending on the hospital. Many West Virginia hospitals offer significant cash-pay discounts and payment plans to help uninsured patients manage these costs.

Does West Virginia Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?

Yes, West Virginia Medicaid covers emergency department visits for enrolled members, including the state's expanded Medicaid population earning up to 138% of federal poverty level. Medicaid patients typically pay minimal copays for emergency visits, usually $3-8 depending on their specific plan. Coverage includes both physician services and facility fees, though non-emergency use of the emergency department may require medical justification.

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

Compare facility fees between hospitals in your area, as these can vary significantly even within the same city. Critical access hospitals in rural areas often charge lower facility fees than major medical centers in Charleston or Morgantown. Ask about cash-pay discounts and payment plans if you're uninsured, and consider urgent care centers for non-emergency conditions that still need prompt attention.

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

Emergency departments typically use encounter-based billing rather than consultation codes, meaning costs depend on the complexity and resources used during your visit rather than whether it's your first time. A moderate-severity visit ranges from $62-174 for physician services regardless of prior visits. Follow-up care after an emergency visit usually transitions to outpatient settings with your primary care physician or specialists at lower costs.

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

Yes, emergency department visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay deductibles, copays, and coinsurance associated with emergency care. Keep all receipts and documentation, as HSA/FSA administrators may require proof that the expense was for qualifying emergency medical treatment.

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

Telemedicine cannot replace in-person emergency care for moderate-severity conditions requiring immediate evaluation, diagnostic testing, or procedures. However, telehealth consultations can help determine if your symptoms warrant emergency department visits versus urgent care or primary care follow-up. West Virginia has expanded telehealth access since 2020, with many insurers covering virtual consultations at $50-150, significantly less than emergency department 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