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Americans visit the emergency room over 130 million times per year, according to recent data from the CDC[1]✓ ✓ Trusted source ⚠️ Insurance may not protect you. Many insurance plans have high deductibles and high out-of-pocket maximums. You could be on the hook for thousands of dollars for a single trip to the ER. What goes into emergency room costs? Why does ER care cost so much, even when you arrive with health insurance? And how can you mitigate those costs in future visits? Here’s what you need to know to understand the costs, understand your options, and plan for these unexpected costs. What am I Paying For When I Visit the Emergency Room?According to a recent United Health Group study, the cost of an average non-emergency ER visit is $2,000[2]. If you have insurance, you’ll be paying a co-pay of around $150 for the visit itself. That doesn’t include other fees that might get added on, like the lab work and prescriptions that might be required after an ER visit, or the services of an out-of-network doctor. To understand emergency room costs, we have to break them down into their component parts. 🚑 The Ambulance RideIf you have a true emergency, you will probably arrive at the emergency room in an ambulance. When emergencies happen and you are incapacitated, the ambulance will get care to you as you are transported to the medical facility. That en route care can literally be a matter of life and death, so it’s good to have it. It can also be expensive, so it’s good to have a handle on what goes into that transportation and care cost. A recent study from the University of Michigan found that, even with insurance, the average ground ambulance transportation left the patient on the hook for an average of $450[3]. An air ambulance can cost well over $20,000! That’s before you even set foot in the ER. 🏥 Emergency Room CostsThe cost of your ER visit will vary with the cause of your visit. Here’s a rundown of average costs of some typical reasons for a visit:
The more complex your emergency, the higher the cost will be. 💼 Costs of Doing BusinessBeyond the care you receive during an ER visit, there are operating costs of an ER that you are also paying for. Sarah Kliff describes the “facility fee” as “the cost of keeping the doors open 24/7 in the ER“. This charge can vary a lot from one ER to another, usually ranging from $50 to around $400. 👇 The Bottom Line on ER CostsEven with insurance, the cost of an ER visit will likely be more than the visit co-pay itself. You will be responsible for the fees incurred up to your deductible, then the co-insurance (often 20% of the bill). Without insurance, you will need to advocate for yourself and find resources to either reduce the bill or make a payment plan that works for you. Is Urgent Care a Better Option?So what about all those Urgent Care facilities that are cropping up in strip malls across the country? Are those a better option? Urgent care facilities are set up to handle non-life-threatening situations. If you’ve been in an accident and have a major injury, get to the ER. If you are experiencing chest pains or other heart-related symptoms, get to the ER. But if you are experiencing minor cuts, a UTI, back pain, or minor burns, you might save money and time by going to an urgent care facility. 👉 In short, if life and limb are in danger, get to the emergency room. What if I’m Uninsured?If you are facing a serious and/or life-threatening medical emergency, you will receive care. Emergency rooms cannot refuse to treat a patient. That care will not be free. If you don’t have insurance, those costs could be far above your means. You’ll have to ask about the hospital’s charity policy, work out a payment plan, and contact Medicaid to see if you qualify. Compared with a copay of $150 plus some lab fees, you would be looking at an average bill at an average of around $2,000. And if you have more serious issues or get transported via helicopter ambulance, the cost could be in the tens of thousands of dollars. 7 Ways to Manage (or Avoid) the Cost of Emergency CareMedical emergencies are by nature hard to predict, but there are things you can do to mitigate their financial impact.
In a true emergency, there may be little you can do to control costs. If you’re unconscious and someone calls an ambulance, all that matters is getting care. Those incidents are rare, though, and many ER visits are avoidable or manageable. Prioritize Your HealthAll financial planning is about planning for the future, which includes the unexpected. An ER visit definitely qualifies as the unexpected. First and foremost, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Without your health, a lot of other financial problems can begin to pile up. The priority is getting the care you need. You also have to take care of your finances. Understanding the emergency room costs can help you manage your health and those costs more effectively. 🏥 Interested to learn more about the underlying reasons for the high cost of healthcare in the US? Start here: Why Is Healthcare So Expensive? Why does it cost so much to go to the emergency room?The average co-pay for insured patients can be as much as four times more expensive than an urgent care co-pay. Emergency centers are much more expensive than urgent care services because the resources are sparse and intended to only be used for serious, life-threatening issues.
Is emergency care free in USA?The Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) requires all plans to cover emergency services. Under this legislation, insurers cannot charge you more for going to an out-of-network hospital or health care provider.
How much is an ER visit in Florida?Florida ER Visit Charges, 2019
State average ER visit cost (charge) was $7,321 (about $68 Billion for over 9.2 million ED visits). Average cost was up about 10.8% from 2018. HCA Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte had the highest average charge in FL again in 2019, at a whopping $17,330 per ER visit in 2019.
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