Critical care (first hour) cost in Seattle, WA
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, 16 hospitals list a cash price for critical care, first 30 to 74 minutes: from $1,109.16 to $9,155.50, with a median of $3,991.74. The lowest listed price is at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett — $2,882.58 less than the median here. Across Washington, the median is $3,221.55 at 54 hospitals.
- The median here, $3,991.74, is 98% above the US median of $2,018.81.
- That is 4.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($843.92).
- 1 of 16 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 16 facilities across 13 cities for code 99291, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 11, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 1, 2026 and Sep 30, 2026.
Lowest$1,109.16Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
Median$3,991.74half of hospitals charge less
Highest$9,155.50in this market
Difference8.3×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA.
median
Lowest $1,109.16Highest $9,155.50
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett lowest Everett, WA · (425) 261-2000 HC PR ED 99291 CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,109.16 | $2,133.00 | — | 48% |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle, WA · (206) 320-2000 HC ED OB FAC CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,798.08 | $3,746.00 | — | 52% |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah, WA · (425) 313-4000 HC ED OB FAC CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,798.08 | $3,746.00 | — | 52% |
| Swedish Medical Center Seattle, WA · (206) 386-6000 HC ED OB FAC CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,798.08 | $3,746.00 | — | 52% |
| Swedish Medical Center Seattle, WA · (206) 386-6000 HC ED CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,376.00 | $4,950.00 | — | 52% |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle, WA · (206) 320-2000 HC ED CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,376.00 | $4,950.00 | — | 52% |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah, WA · (425) 313-4000 HC ED CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,376.00 | $4,950.00 | — | 52% |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle, WA · (206) 223-6600 CRITICAL CARE, FIRST 30-74 MIN-FAC+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $2,492.37 | $4,887.00 | $2,932.20–$3,909.60 | 49% |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue, WA · (425) 688-5000 Hc Critical Care File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,707.50 | $5,415.00 | — | 50% |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA · (253) 588-1711 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $3,831.40 | $13,285.00 | $964.03–$9,963.75 | 71% |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Everett, WA · (425) 261-2000 HC ED CRITICAL CARE FIRST HOUR CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,887.00 | $7,475.00 | — | 48% |
| Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Snoqualmie, WA · (425) 831-2300 Facility Fee HC CRITICAL CARE File of Apr 14, 2026 · source file | $3,943.51 | $6,799.15 | $339.27–$6,255.22 | 42% |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA · (253) 530-2050 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $4,039.97 | $13,285.00 | $964.03–$9,963.75 | 70% |
| Highline Medical Center Burien, WA · (206) 431-5237 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $4,043.96 | $13,285.00 | $959.22–$11,956.50 | 70% |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington, WA · (360) 435-2133 HC CRIT CARE FULL TRAUMA W/O NOTI+2 more lines at this price File of Mar 26, 2026 · source file | $4,064.00 | $5,080.00 | $381.00–$4,572.00 | 20% |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington, WA · (360) 435-2133 HC CRITICAL CARE, MIN 30-74 File of Mar 26, 2026 · source file | $4,078.40 | $5,098.00 | $433.33–$4,588.20 | 20% |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way, WA · (253) 944-8100 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $4,085.14 | $13,285.00 | $959.22–$9,963.75 | 69% |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA · (253) 627-4101 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $4,230.72 | $12,774.00 | $955.05–$9,580.50 | 67% |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA · (360) 825-2505 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 6 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $4,878.26 | $13,285.00 | $2,125.60–$11,956.50 | 63% |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA · (253) 588-1711 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $5,172.46 | $17,935.00 | $964.03–$13,451.25 | 71% |
| Valley Medical Center Renton, WA · (425) 228-3450 Critical Care Ill/Injured Patient Init 30-74 Min File of Mar 12, 2026 · source file | $5,261.20 | $7,516.00 | — | 30% |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA · (253) 530-2050 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $5,454.04 | $17,935.00 | $964.03–$13,451.25 | 70% |
| Highline Medical Center Burien, WA · (206) 431-5237 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $5,459.42 | $17,935.00 | $959.22–$16,141.50 | 70% |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way, WA · (253) 944-8100 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $5,515.02 | $17,935.00 | $959.22–$13,451.25 | 69% |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA · (253) 627-4101 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $5,711.51 | $17,245.00 | $955.05–$12,933.75 | 67% |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA · (253) 588-1711 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $5,977.09 | $20,725.00 | $964.03–$15,543.75 | 71% |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA · (253) 530-2050 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,302.48 | $20,725.00 | $964.03–$15,543.75 | 70% |
| Highline Medical Center Burien, WA · (206) 431-5237 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,308.69 | $20,725.00 | $959.22–$18,652.50 | 70% |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way, WA · (253) 944-8100 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,372.94 | $20,725.00 | $959.22–$15,543.75 | 69% |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA · (360) 825-2505 HC ER FACILITY LVL 7 T-LIMITED File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,585.74 | $17,935.00 | $2,244.29–$16,141.50 | 63% |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA · (253) 627-4101 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $6,600.11 | $19,928.00 | $955.05–$14,946.00 | 67% |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA · (253) 588-1711 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,628.30 | $22,983.00 | $964.03–$17,237.25 | 71% |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA · (253) 530-2050 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,989.14 | $22,983.00 | $964.03–$17,237.25 | 70% |
| Highline Medical Center Burien, WA · (206) 431-5237 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $6,996.03 | $22,983.00 | $959.22–$20,684.70 | 70% |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way, WA · (253) 944-8100 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $7,067.28 | $22,983.00 | $959.22–$17,237.25 | 69% |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA · (253) 627-4101 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $7,319.47 | $22,100.00 | $955.05–$16,575.00 | 67% |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA · (360) 825-2505 HC ER FACILITY LEVEL 8 T-MAJOR File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $7,610.22 | $20,725.00 | $2,244.29–$18,652.50 | 63% |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA · (360) 825-2505 HC ER FACILITY LVL 9 T-CRITICAL File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $8,439.36 | $22,983.00 | $2,244.29–$20,684.70 | 63% |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle, WA · (206) 987-2000 Critical Care 1st 30-74 Minutes File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $9,155.50 | $9,155.50 | $3,753.76–$8,789.28 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $1,109.16, median $3,991.74, highest $9,155.50 — a 8.3× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $4,039.97. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 9 of 10 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What critical care (first hour) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Critical care (first hour) explained.