Level 1 ER visit cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 88 hospitals publish a cash price for emergency room visit, level 1 of 5, minor problem that may not need a doctor: from $28.00 to $684.82, with a median of $181.50. The lowest price is at Regional Medical Center (Manchester). The highest price is 24.5× the lowest.
- The median here, $181.50, is 18% below the US median of $222.62.
- That is 2.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($86.15).
- Iowa ranks 11th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 9 of 88 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 99281. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$28.00Regional Medical Center
Median$181.50half of hospitals charge less
Highest$684.82in Iowa
Lowest saves$153.50vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Medical Center lowest Manchester · Manchester, IA EMR DPT VST MAYX REQ PHY/QHP | $28.00 | $35.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 INIT ASSESS | $44.00 | $55.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $49.50 | $66.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 INIT ASSESS | $50.40 | $56.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Pocahontas Community Hospital Pocahontas · Pocahontas, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 INIT ASSESS | $64.00 | $64.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA Level 1 - Lynx Visit Level | $70.80 | $236.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center Sumner · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $74.60 | $93.26 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $78.40 | $112.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $86.00 | $215.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $91.64 | $158.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $93.60 | $117.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Emergency Visit | $96.00 | $96.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt · Humboldt, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $99.00 | $110.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $100.00 | $100.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ED LEVEL I-XIX | $101.00 | $156.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Franklin General Hospital Hampton · Hampton, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $101.70 | $113.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare Harwarden · Harwarden, IA EMERGENCY DEPT | $102.85 | $121.00 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $103.64 | $129.55 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $106.40 | $190.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $107.35 | $113.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $107.67 | $111.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 99281 EMERGENCY SERVICE I | $111.08 | $187.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $112.20 | $187.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Albia · Albia, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $114.60 | $191.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $117.60 | $196.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC ER LEVEL 1 CEN | $120.60 | $268.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Palo Alto County Hospital Emmetsburg · Emmetsburg, IA Emergency department visit for the evaluation and management | $124.50 | $166.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC ER LEVEL 1 CEN | $134.00 | $268.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Adair County Memorial Hospital Greenfield · Greenfield, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $135.00 | $180.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $135.10 | $193.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $138.36 | $206.50 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $144.78 | $254.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $148.80 | $186.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $154.40 | $193.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $155.40 | $222.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC ER LEVEL 1 CEN | $156.09 | $363.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Decatur County Hospital Leon · Leon, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $164.80 | $206.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $166.92 | $321.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer · Spencer, IA Emergency Room Visit Level 1 | $170.25 | $227.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $176.01 | $220.01 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $176.01 | $220.01 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $176.01 | $220.01 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Guttenberg · Guttenberg, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $180.80 | $226.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $181.00 | $181.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $182.00 | $228.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $183.20 | $229.00 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $183.33 | $189.00 | — source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $193.50 | $258.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $195.00 | $260.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $197.60 | $304.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $202.40 | $253.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada · Ames, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $202.40 | $253.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS FAST TRACK ER LEVEL 1 | $202.80 | $338.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $205.63 | $257.03 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $205.63 | $257.03 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $211.24 | $264.05 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $219.47 | $274.33 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $219.47 | $274.33 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $222.95 | $343.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS FAST TRACK ER LEVEL 1 | $245.40 | $409.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS EMERGENCY CARE LEVEL 1 | $245.40 | $409.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $249.23 | $311.53 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $253.50 | $390.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $255.45 | $393.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA GHS EMERGENCY CARE 1 W DIAG THER PROC | $264.00 | $264.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Gay Hospital Vinton · Cedar Rapids, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $264.41 | $330.51 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $267.20 | $334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $273.00 | $420.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $273.00 | $420.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $283.00 | $283.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ER VISIT, LEVEL 1, BRIEF (99281) | $297.50 | $425.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ER VISIT, LEVEL 1, BRIEF (99281) | $297.50 | $425.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA ED 99281 EMER CASE LEVEL I | $301.60 | $377.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 Sane_Safe | $341.25 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $341.25 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader · Elkader, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $341.25 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 Sane_Safe | $341.25 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $341.25 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $353.00 | $353.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 OB Triage | $364.00 | $560.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ED LEVEL 1 VISIT | $406.41 | $508.01 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $468.00 | $780.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $468.00 | $780.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Guthrie County Hospital Guthrie Center · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professional | $480.00 | $480.00 | Sep 26, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville · Centerville, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 Sane_Safe | $525.00 | $525.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ED Type a Level 1 | $624.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $684.82 | $706.00 | — source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 8 | $96.00 | $352.62 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 6 | $74.60 | $204.02 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $202.80 | $219.47 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | $176.01 | $253.50 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $49.50 | $297.50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $70.80 | $134.00 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $103.64 | $153.02 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $138.36 | $245.68 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | $44.00 | $154.20 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $222.95 | $234.18 |
| Albia, IA | 1 | $114.60 | $114.60 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $78.40 | $78.40 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $468.00 | $468.00 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $195.00 | $195.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $211.24 | $211.24 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $525.00 | $525.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $86.00 | $86.00 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $50.40 | $50.40 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $193.50 | $193.50 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $468.00 | $468.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $120.60 | $120.60 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $283.00 | $283.00 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $135.10 | $135.10 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $154.40 | $154.40 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $341.25 | $341.25 |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 1 | $124.50 | $124.50 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $183.33 | $183.33 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $117.60 | $117.60 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $176.01 | $176.01 |
| Greenfield, IA | 1 | $135.00 | $135.00 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $249.23 | $249.23 |
| Guttenberg, IA | 1 | $180.80 | $180.80 |
| Hampton, IA | 1 | $101.70 | $101.70 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $91.64 | $91.64 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $102.85 | $102.85 |
| Humboldt, IA | 1 | $99.00 | $99.00 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $181.00 | $181.00 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $106.40 | $106.40 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $155.40 | $155.40 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $182.00 | $182.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $164.80 | $164.80 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $28.00 | $28.00 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $264.00 | $264.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $205.63 | $205.63 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $255.45 | $255.45 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $219.47 | $219.47 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $341.25 | $341.25 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $341.25 | $341.25 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $93.60 | $93.60 |
| Pocahontas, IA | 1 | $64.00 | $64.00 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $112.20 | $112.20 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $684.82 | $684.82 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $183.20 | $183.20 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $301.60 | $301.60 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $197.60 | $197.60 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $107.67 | $107.67 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $176.01 | $176.01 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $170.25 | $170.25 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $107.35 | $107.35 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $267.20 | $267.20 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $144.78 | $144.78 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $111.08 | $111.08 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What level 1 ER visit is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Level 1 ER visit explained.
Emergency room visit, level 1 of 5, minor problem that may not need a doctor in other states
- Alabama$143.00
- Alaska$371.28
- Arizona$249.12
- Arkansas$179.40
- California$420.68
- Colorado$254.58
- Connecticut$557.50
- Delaware$408.02
- District of Columbia$409.70, 3 hospitals
- Florida$495.62
- Georgia$231.28
- Hawaii$374.60
- Idaho$223.60
- Illinois$224.00
- Indiana$217.70
- Kansas$209.77
- Kentucky$199.16
- Louisiana$133.19
- Maine$105.61
- Maryland$132.02
- Massachusetts$416.33
- Michigan$186.50
- Minnesota$203.65
- Mississippi$103.74
- Missouri$238.55
- Montana$208.80
- Nebraska$207.00
- Nevada$329.08
- New Hampshire$192.09
- New Jersey$218.39
- New Mexico$201.00
- New York$249.31
- North Carolina$190.70
- North Dakota$177.00
- Ohio$312.00
- Oklahoma$163.25
- Oregon$238.55
- Pennsylvania$304.05
- Puerto Rico$1,005.00, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$314.40
- South Carolina$299.50
- South Dakota$274.40
- Tennessee$147.23
- Texas$233.36
- Utah$316.15
- Vermont$267.00
- Virginia$188.00
- Washington$251.94
- West Virginia$158.91
- Wisconsin$187.50
- Wyoming$259.83
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.