You thought you’d save some money by foregoing the insurance. But you unexpectedly find yourself in the ER. Uh-oh! How much is it going to cost?
Costs
Estimating ER costs is really, really difficult because there are so many factors and fees that come into place. You will automatically be charged a facility and triage fee to be admitted and assigned a room. This could be anywhere from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
Your bill will be affected by your state, the severity of your condition, and even the time of day you visit the ER.
Some states are, of course, more expensive than others. Studies indicate that states like Maryland, Maine, and West Virginia tend to have lower, on average, ER costs, and states like California, New Jersey, and Florida tend to have higher on average ER costs.
And did you know, if you visit in the middle of the night it will also be more expensive?!
Healthcare Bluebook
Because there are so many factors to take into consideration, we highly recommend the healthcare bluebook.
This site a wonderful free resource. You can enter your condition and location to receive price estimates and averages based on the info you have provided.
Across the US, the average cost of an ER visit hovers somewhere around $2200. However, it is estimated that over 25% of bills will be over 3K and if you need surgery, without insurance, it could be upwards of 20K!
Avoid Bills
Going to the urgent care or your PCP is much less expensive than going to the ER. So, know where to go and when.
Urgent Care:
- Stitches
- Insect Bites
- Neck & Back Discomfort
- UTIs & Yeast Infections
- Cold & Flu
- Pink Eye
- Sprains & Breaks
- Ear Pain & Discomfort
ER:
- Severe Burns
- Chest Pain
- Severe Allergic Reactions
- Neck & Spinal Injury
- Severe Breaks
- Seizure
- Heavy Bleeding
- Loss of Consciousness
Paying Big Bills
If you are still stuck with a big bill, work out a payment plan with the hospital. They may also be willing to negotiate. A large amount of hospital bills go completely unpaid and they are sometimes willing to take less than the total bill.
And of course, make sure you ask for an itemized bill and double-check the coding. There is a staggering amount of incorrect medicals due to coding errors.
Insurance
The truth of the matter is, that insurance is really there to help you avoid big bills such as unexpected ER visits. And some plans are inexpensive and could help you avoid thousands of dollars of medical debt.
ACA
You can enroll in a plan through the marketplace. With premium tax credits, many people are eligible for plans less than $10 per month. And if you are someone who winds up needing surgery after an ER visit, you will be very happy to have a plan in place with an out of pocket maximum.
Catastrophic Coverage
You could also look into a catastrophic coverage plan. These are low-premium, high deductible plans. You may not utilize your coverage on a regular basis, but will at least have protection should you have major medical needs. These are available on and off the marketplace.
Short Term Medical
And of course, there are short term medical plans. These are private health insurance plans that are usually available for a period of up to three years. If you are ineligible for a premium tax credit through the marketplace, you may want to consider an STM.
There is medical underwriting, but if you are a younger, healthier person, you will likely have access to a lower cost plan with benefits and protections from major medical bills.
Jesse Smedley is the Principal Broker for iHealthBrokers and the founder, president, and CEO of Smedley Insurance Group, Inc. and iHealthBrokers.com. Since the inception of SIG in 2007, Jesse has been dedicated to helping people save money on their health insurance by providing them with resources to educate themselves on all their health insurance options, both under age 65 and Medicare beneficiaries. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for expert columns regarding health insurance and Medicare.
