ER Visit Cost in Chattanooga, TN

How much does a er visit cost without insurance in Chattanooga?

Cash prices for 99283 are $106.13 at Erlanger Baroness, $450.22 at CHI Memorial Hixson, $643.39 at CHI Memorial Chattanooga, and $1,550.21 at both Parkridge facilities. For 99284, they are $158.93, $529.25, $756.33, and $1,695.47. For 99285, they are $231.79, $789.73, $1,128.57, and $2,277.85. Overall, cash prices range from $106.13 to $2,277.85. Level 5 visits cost more than Level 3 at every hospital. These are facility fees only. Physician or professional fees are billed separately.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge, or chargemaster price, is a hospital's full list price before any discounts. Almost no one pays it. Cash prices are typically a fraction of gross. Erlanger Baroness cash prices are 53% of gross ($106.13 of $201 for 99283). CHI Memorial Hixson cash prices are 30% of gross ($450.22 of $1,521), and CHI Memorial Chattanooga's are 42%. Parkridge cash prices equal gross at 100%. A larger percentage discount does not always mean a lower price: CHI Memorial Hixson's 30% ratio still results in a higher cash price than Erlanger Baroness's 53%, because its starting gross charge is higher.

Does insurance cover a er visit?

Insurance often covers emergency care, but coverage depends on the specific plan and whether the visit meets the plan's medical necessity criteria. Negotiated rates vary widely. For 99283, insured rates range from $50.93 to $3,068 across 886 payer rates. Prior authorization requirements generally apply to non-emergency services rather than emergency visits, and plans differ. If you have a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, you owe the negotiated rate for your plan, not the gross charge. Your insurer can confirm your deductible status and cost-sharing.

Are there additional fees beyond the er visit facility charge?

Yes. The facility fee covers the hospital's room, equipment, and staff. Emergency physicians typically bill separately for their professional services, and that fee is not included in the prices shown here. Additional services during an ER visit, such as imaging, laboratory tests, or procedures, are billed separately from the visit-level facility fee, and imaging may include a separate radiologist reading fee. Each of these services may carry its own facility fee and professional fee. Dollar amounts for these separate charges are not included in this dataset.

What is the cash price for a level 3 ER visit at CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson?

CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson publishes a cash price of $450.22 for code 99283 (ER Visit Level 3), listed as 30% of its $1,521 gross charge. This is a facility charge only. Physician fees and other services are not included in this figure.

Which Chattanooga hospitals publish a self-pay price that is the same as the gross charge?

Two of the four Chattanooga hospitals on this page, Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Medical Center, list cash equal to gross, so no self-pay discount is published. For code 99283 that amount is $1,550.21. These are facility charges only, and they do not include separate professional fees.

What do Chattanooga hospitals publish as insured rates for a level 5 ER visit, code 99285?

For code 99285, CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga shows insured rates from $322.19 to $2,577. Parkridge East Hospital shows rates from $165 to $4,440. All four hospitals on this page publish at least one insured rate. These are facility charges only, not including physician billing.

How much does BCBS TennCare pay for a level 3 ER visit at Parkridge Medical Center?

The payer table for code 99283 at Parkridge Medical Center lists BCBS TennCare at $100.62, the low end of its 135 published rates. The high end is $3,068, listed under United. These are facility rates only, and the amount a patient owes can differ by plan.

How do CHI Memorial cash prices compare between its two Chattanooga-area hospitals for code 99285?

For code 99285, CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga lists a cash price of $1,128.57, while CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson lists $789.73. Both share a $2,668 gross charge. Cash is 42% of gross at Chattanooga and 30% at Hixson. These figures are facility charges only.