Cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) Visit
in Wisconsin
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Wisconsin's healthcare system serves a diverse population across urban centers like Milwaukee and Madison alongside extensive rural counties, creating varied cost structures for emergency care. An ER Visit (Moderate) in Wisconsin typically costs patients between $73 and $647, with negotiated insurance rates showing a median of $213.50 across over 10,800 active providers statewide. Wisconsin maintains robust emergency care access through major health systems including Froedtert, UW Health, and Advocate Aurora Health, allowing patients to browse all available ER Visit (Moderate) providers throughout the state.
Average
$311
Median
$214
Lowest
$73
Highest
$647
Providers
10,827
119% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does er visit (moderate severity) compare to related procedures in Wisconsin?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER Visit (Low Severity) Emergency department visit, low severity | 99283 | $56 | $129 | $355 | 10,349 |
| ER Visit (High Severity) Emergency department visit, high severity | 99285 | $73 | $277 | $940 | 11,997 |
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 Wisconsin
These hospitals in Wisconsin are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
GLENDALE, WI
ALTOONA, WI
PRAIRIE DU SAC, WI
MADISON, WI
WOODRUFF, WI
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 Wisconsin
Wisconsin's emergency care costs run approximately 1% above national averages, reflecting the state's balanced mix of urban medical centers and rural critical access hospitals. The state's geographic spread from Lake Superior to the Illinois border creates distinct cost regions, with Milwaukee and Madison commanding premium pricing while rural counties offer more affordable emergency care options.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Wisconsin's emergency care concentrates in metropolitan Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, where multiple competing hospitals drive both quality and costs higher. Rural Wisconsin relies heavily on critical access hospitals that provide essential emergency services but often transfer complex cases to urban trauma centers. The state's extensive rural geography means some patients travel over an hour for emergency care, creating access challenges but often lower per-visit costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based emergency departments dominate Wisconsin's emergency care landscape, with major systems like Froedtert Health, UW Health, and Advocate Aurora Health operating high-overhead urban facilities. Independent freestanding emergency centers remain limited in Wisconsin compared to other states, giving hospital systems significant pricing power. Academic medical centers in Madison and Milwaukee typically charge premium rates due to teaching hospital overhead and advanced capabilities.
Insurance Market Competition in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's insurance market features moderate competition with BCBS Wisconsin (Anthem) holding significant market share alongside UnitedHealthcare and regional player WEA Trust. The state's cooperative insurance history through WEA Trust provides educators with competitive options that influence broader market pricing. Limited insurer competition in rural Wisconsin counties can result in higher negotiated rates compared to urban areas with multiple plan options.
Physician Supply and Demand in Wisconsin
Wisconsin maintains over 10,800 active emergency medicine providers, indicating strong coverage relative to the state's 5.9 million residents and suggesting competitive pricing pressure. The state's medical schools at UW-Madison and Medical College of Wisconsin help maintain physician supply, though rural emergency departments still face staffing challenges. Strong physician availability in urban areas creates competitive pricing, while rural shortages can drive up locum tenens costs that get passed to patients.
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 Wisconsin
What is the average cost of a ER Visit (Moderate) visit in Wisconsin without insurance?
Does Wisconsin Medicaid cover ER Visit (Moderate) visits?
How do I find an affordable ER Visit (Moderate) near me in Wisconsin?
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 Wisconsin?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a ER Visit (Moderate) in Wisconsin?
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 |