Cash prices 1,466 hospitals

ER visit cost without insurance

The median cash price for Level 3 ER visit is $565.60 across 1,459 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $145.94 and $1,519.05.

The ER visit price is the hospital's facility fee for one emergency department visit, set by one of five levels (99281–99285) that reflect how complex the care was. The emergency physician bills separately, and lab tests, imaging, medicines and procedures are added on top. In an emergency, go to the nearest ER or call 911: under the federal EMTALA law, hospital emergency departments must screen and stabilize anyone regardless of ability to pay.

Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file

ER visit prices by type

The level is assigned after the visit based on how complex the evaluation and treatment were, so it cannot be chosen in advance. Level 3 (99283) is a common middle level and is used in the state table; a minor problem is usually level 1 or 2, and a serious illness that leads to admission is usually level 5.

Procedure	Hospitals	Most charge	Median	Medicare
Level 1 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 1 of 5, minor problem that may not need a doctor · code 99281	1,466	$42.68–$473.11	$192.08	$86.15median 2.2×
Level 2 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 2 of 5, straightforward problem · code 99282	1,458	$89.02–$872.48	$332.44	$156.87median 2.1×
Level 3 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 3 of 5, low-complexity problem · code 99283	1,459	$145.94–$1,519.05	$565.60	$278.89median 2.0×
Level 4 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 4 of 5, moderate-complexity problem · code 99284	1,448	$243.07–$2,391.07	$907.84	$426.30median 2.1×
Level 5 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 5 of 5, high-complexity problem · code 99285	1,456	$350.64–$3,507.82	$1,370.43	$608.43median 2.3×

“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.

Level 3 ER visit: median by state

States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its ER visit prices and cheapest hospitals.

Paying cash: what to do

Ask for an itemized bill with CPT codes, and check the visit level against the prices on this page.
Ask for the hospital's financial assistance application; nonprofit hospitals must have a written policy and cannot charge eligible patients more than they generally bill insured patients.
The emergency physician group sends its own bill, so ask it separately for a self-pay discount and a payment plan.

Questions

How much does an ER visit cost without insurance?

It depends on the visit level, the hospital and what was done: the facility fee in the table is only one part. The physician fee, lab tests, imaging and medicines are added, and they can bring the total well above the facility fee alone.

Can an ER turn me away if I can't pay?

No. EMTALA requires hospitals with emergency departments that take Medicare, which is nearly all of them, to provide a medical screening exam and stabilizing treatment regardless of insurance or ability to pay, without delaying care to ask about payment. You can still be billed afterward, and financial assistance may reduce the bill.

Is urgent care cheaper than the ER?

For minor problems such as a sprain, a small cut or a sore throat, an urgent care center usually costs less than an emergency department. For chest pain, signs of a stroke, trouble breathing, severe bleeding or any other emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.