ER Visit Cost in Houston, TX

An emergency room visit involves an evaluation by emergency staff, with the facility providing the treatment space, nursing care, equipment and supplies needed during the stay. The visit produces a documented assessment and, depending on what is performed, results from any tests or imaging that are ordered. The hospital facility fee covers the use of the department and its resources, while physician services are billed separately. This page lists three billing codes: 99283 (ER Visit Level 3, Moderate), 99284 (ER Visit Level 4, High/Urgent) and 99285 (ER Visit Level 5, Critical). Prices come from the machine-readable price transparency files that CMS requires hospitals to publish, covering 33 hospitals in the Houston area.

Data last accessed by us: 2026-10-15 · Newest hospital file date among hospitals below: 3/24/2026

Data may be outdated

This hospital's pricing file has not been updated since 2026-02-28 (229 days ago). Prices may not reflect current charges. Contact the hospital directly for current pricing.

⚠

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.

Do not delay emergency care based on cost.

ER Visit Level 3 (Moderate) (HCPCS 99283)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
Harris Health	$511	$265.69	$51.36	$826	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake *	$2,771.96	$2,771.96 *	$50.33	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Conroe *	$2,181.39	$2,181.39 *	$50.33	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood *	$2,073	$2,073 *	$50.33	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Mainland *	$2,771.96	$2,771.96 *	$50.33	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center *	$1,403.04	$1,403.04 *	$51.36	$4,000	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress *	$2,683.13	$2,683.13 *	$51.36	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Northwest *	$3,928.54	$3,928.54 *	$51.36	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA Pearland *	$2,741.30	$2,741.30 *	$51.36	$4,000	Schedule →
HCA Southeast *	$5,373	$5,373 *	$50.33	$4,835.70	Schedule →
HCA Tomball *	$2,372.21	$2,372.21 *	$51.36	$4,027	Schedule →
HCA West *	$3,015	$3,015 *	$50.33	$4,000	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$2,242	$1,121	$274.22	$1,096.89	Schedule →
MH Cypress	$2,573.75	$823.60	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Greater Heights	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Katy	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Memorial City	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Northeast	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Pearland	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Southeast	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Southwest	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Sugar Land	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
Memorial Hermann TMC	$2,573.75	$823.60	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
MH Woodlands	$2,474.75	$791.92	$274.22	$521.02	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$2,418	$846.30	$51.36	$3,616	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$2,548	$891.80	$48.79	$3,983	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$2,749	$962.15	$30.82	$3,983	Schedule →
Texas Children's	$2,032	$1,361.44	$51.36	$1,930.40	Schedule →

* Hospitals marked with * publish cash prices equal to their gross charges, meaning no separate self-pay discount appears in their transparency file. The insured rates shown are negotiated rates between the hospital and specific insurance plans. Uninsured patients may be able to negotiate lower rates by contacting the hospital directly.

ER Visit Level 4 (High/Urgent) (HCPCS 99284)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,594	Schedule →
Harris Health	$1,193	$408.60	$300.64	$1,760	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake *	$3,908.71	$3,908.71 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Conroe *	$3,440.29	$3,440.29 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood *	$3,970	$3,970 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Mainland *	$3,908.71	$3,908.71 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center *	$2,185.31	$2,185.31 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress *	$3,970	$3,970 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Northwest *	$6,521.88	$6,521.88 *	$300	$5,855	Schedule →
HCA Pearland *	$3,359.30	$3,359.30 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA Southeast *	$6,678	$6,678 *	$300	$6,010.20	Schedule →
HCA Tomball *	$2,798.77	$2,798.77 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
HCA West *	$4,896	$4,896 *	$300	$4,651	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$3,816	$1,908	$419.16	$1,676.65	Schedule →
MH Cypress	$4,256.75	$1,362.16	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Greater Heights	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Katy	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Memorial City	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Northeast	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Pearland	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Southeast	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Southwest	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Sugar Land	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
Memorial Hermann TMC	$4,256.75	$1,362.16	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
MH Woodlands	$4,093	$1,309.76	$419.16	$796.41	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$3,627	$1,269.45	$175	$5,687	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,609	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$3,861	$1,351.35	$256.76	$5,609	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,609	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,609	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,609	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$3,920	$1,372	$307.09	$5,609	Schedule →
Texas Children's	$3,824	$2,562.08	$1,032.48	$3,632.80	Schedule →

ER Visit Level 5 (Critical) (HCPCS 99285)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$5,029	$1,760.15	$442.14	$7,127	Schedule →
Harris Health	$1,533	$588.31	$386.32	$2,619.50	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake *	$5,616.42	$5,616.42 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Conroe *	$6,817.38	$6,817.38 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood *	$6,019	$6,019 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Mainland *	$5,616.42	$5,616.42 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center *	$3,138.23	$3,138.23 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress *	$5,497.47	$5,497.47 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Northwest *	$9,731.47	$9,731.47 *	$300	$9,945	Schedule →
HCA Pearland *	$5,550.33	$5,550.33 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA Southeast *	$8,314	$8,314 *	$300	$9,945	Schedule →
HCA Tomball *	$5,009.34	$5,009.34 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
HCA West *	$7,151	$7,151 *	$300	$7,960	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$4,752	$2,376	$598.24	$2,392.98	Schedule →
MH Cypress	$5,509.50	$1,763.04	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Greater Heights	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Katy	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Memorial City	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Northeast	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Pearland	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Southeast	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Southwest	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Sugar Land	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
Memorial Hermann TMC	$5,509.50	$1,763.04	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
MH Woodlands	$5,297.50	$1,695.20	$598.24	$1,136.67	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$4,650	$1,627.50	$279	$5,687	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$5,029	$1,760.15	$402.32	$7,146	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$5,009	$1,753.15	$333.10	$7,146	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$5,029	$1,760.15	$442.14	$7,146	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$5,029	$1,760.15	$402.32	$7,146	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$5,029	$1,760.15	$402.32	$7,146	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$5,029	$1,760.15	$442.14	$7,146	Schedule →
Texas Children's	$5,392	$3,612.64	$1,455.84	$5,122.40	Schedule →

What These Prices Mean

Gross, cash and insured figures
The gross charge is a hospital's full list price. The cash price is what a self-pay patient is quoted, and the insured range runs from the lowest to the highest negotiated rate with insurers. At Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital, the 99283 gross charge is $2,573.75, the cash price is $823.60 (32% of gross) and insured rates run from $274.22 to $521.02. At Houston Methodist Hospital, cash is 50% of gross for each code. People on a high-deductible plan who have not met the deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate, so the insured range matters more to them than the gross charge.

Three levels, three price points
The three codes reflect increasing levels of emergency department service. At St Luke's Lakeside, the cash price is $962.15 for 99283, $1,372 for 99284 and $1,760.15 for 99285. At Texas Children's Hospital, cash is $1,361.44, $2,562.08 and $3,612.64 for the same three codes, each at 67% of gross. Gross charges rise with each level at every hospital on this page. The code assigned depends on how the hospital classifies the visit, so the level billed is not known in advance.

Why ER Visit Prices Vary

Wide spreads between and within systems
Gross charges on this page run from $511 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital (99283) to $9,731.47 at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest (99285), about 19x. Discount policies differ by system. Eleven of 33 hospitals, all in the HCA Healthcare group, publish cash equal to gross, so no self-pay discount appears in their files. Excluding those, cash prices run from $265.69 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital (99283) to $3,612.64 at Texas Children's Hospital (99285), about 14x. Memorial Hermann hospitals show cash at 32% of gross, St. Luke's Health (CommonSpirit) hospitals at 35%, and Texas Children's Hospital at 67%.

Outside this dataset and across plans
Freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and other outpatient facilities are not covered in this dataset and may price differently. Insurer data also shows large plan-to-plan variation. At HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, 266 published rates for 99283 run from $50.33 (Texas Health Network, MCD) to $4,027 (United, AllPayerAppendix), about 80x. In 39 rows, the cash price is above every insured rate at that hospital.

Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your ER Visit cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $265.69 to $9,731.47 (including hospitals that publish cash equal to gross charge, marked with * in the table). The lowest insured rate in the price table is $30.82 (Baylor St Luke's Medical Center). Insured rates depend on the plan, and the lowest are often Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare Advantage plans, so they may not reflect what a commercial or marketplace plan pays. If you are uninsured, a marketplace health plan could reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Compare Health Insurance Plans → Get Free Plan Estimate →

Links go to Healthcare.gov, the official federal health insurance marketplace. We are not affiliated with Healthcare.gov or any insurance provider. This is not a recommendation for any specific plan.

Compare Insurer Rates for ER Visit in Houston

How much does each insurance company pay for er visit at Houston hospitals?

Insurer	Lowest Rate	At Hospital	Highest Rate	Hospitals
Texas Children's Health Plan	$30.82	Baylor St Luke's Medical Center	$373.86	17
Community Health Choice	$48.79	St Luke's Patients Medical Center	$957.19	33
Molina Healthcare	$51.36	Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital	$1,292.21	13
UnitedHealthcare	$51.36	St Luke's Brazosport	$3,450.88	22
Amerigroup	$51.36	HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake	$363	19
Superior Health Plan	$52.90	Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital	$921.13	9
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas	$53.93	Baylor St Luke's Medical Center	$7,960	22
Humana	$64.20	HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake	$3,268.85	19

Rates shown are the lowest and highest negotiated rates each insurer has published across Houston hospitals for this procedure. Your actual cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance.

What Insurers Actually Pay

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Published negotiated rates for ER Visit Level 3 (Moderate) (HCPCS 99283) at HCA Kingwood, outpatient facility fee:

ER Visit Level 3 (Moderate) (99283), HCA Kingwood Payer Rates

Insurance Payer	Plan Type	Negotiated Rate
Texas Health Network	MCD	$50.33
Amerigroup	MCDCHIPBH	$51.36
United	MGMCD	$52.39
Humana	MCD	$64.20
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$77.04
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$77.04
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$77.04
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$77.04
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$77.04
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$128.40
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$128.40
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$200
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$200
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$200
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$200
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$200
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$200
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$200
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$200
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$200
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$200
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$200
Community Health Choice MCD	CHIP	$300
Community Health Choice MCD	CHIPPerinatal	$300
Community Health Choice MCD	STAR	$300
Community Health Choice MCD	STAR+PLUS	$300
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
United	OptionsPPO	$348.26
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$363
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$363
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$363
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$363
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$363
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
Humana	HMO	$686.78
Humana	PPO	$686.78
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
BCBS	Traditional	$725.55
Imagine Health	PPO	$814
Imagine Health	PPO	$814
Imagine Health	PPO	$814
Imagine Health	PPO	$814
Imagine Health	PPO	$814
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$829.20
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$863
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$863
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$863
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$863
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$891.39
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$932.85
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$943
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$943
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$943
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$943
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$943
Oscar	HIX	$973
BCBS	BAV	$1,064
BCBS	BAV	$1,064
BCBS	BAV	$1,064
BCBS	BAV	$1,064
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$1,073.81
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$1,140.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$1,140.15
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$1,243.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$1,243.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$1,243.80
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$1,347.45
Curative Administrators	COMM	$1,359
Curative Administrators	COMM	$1,359
Curative Administrators	COMM	$1,359
Curative Administrators	COMM	$1,359
Curative Administrators	COMM	$1,359
Aetna	NBHMO	$1,418
Aetna	NBPOS	$1,418
Averde Health	Commercial	$1,500
Averde Health	Commercial	$1,500
Averde Health	Commercial	$1,500
Averde Health	Commercial	$1,500
Averde Health	Commercial	$1,500
Aetna	COMMHMO	$1,506
Aetna	COMMPOS	$1,506
BCBS	HMO	$1,519
BCBS	HMO	$1,519
BCBS	HMO	$1,519
BCBS	HMO	$1,519
Evry Health	BroadNetwork	$1,528
Evry Health	BroadNetwork	$1,528
Evry Health	BroadNetwork	$1,528
Evry Health	BroadNetwork	$1,528
Evry Health	BroadNetwork	$1,528
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$1,554.75
BCBS	EPOSOA	$1,561
BCBS	EPOSOA	$1,561
BCBS	EPOSOA	$1,561
BCBS	EPOSOA	$1,561
BCBS	PPO	$1,603
BCBS	PPO	$1,603
BCBS	PPO	$1,603
BCBS	PPO	$1,603
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$1,699.86
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$1,762.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$1,762.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$1,762.05
USA Managed Care	COMM	$1,762.05
Aetna	OONHMO	$1,772
Aetna	OONPOS	$1,772
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$1,865.70
Aetna	ASAHMO	$1,914
Aetna	ASAPOS	$1,914
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$1,947
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$1,947
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$1,947
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$1,947
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$1,947
Cigna	CSN	$2,281
Cigna	CSN	$2,281
Cigna	CSN	$2,281
Cigna	CSN	$2,281
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,471
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,471
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,471
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,471
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$2,508
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$2,508
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$2,508
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$2,508
Aetna	NBPPO	$2,621
Aetna	COMMPPO	$2,787
United	SmallGroup	$2,796
United	SmallGroup	$2,796
United	SmallGroup	$2,796
United	SmallGroup	$2,796
Cigna	PPO	$2,938
Cigna	PPO	$2,938
Cigna	PPO	$2,938
Cigna	PPO	$2,938
Aetna	OONPPO	$3,277
Aetna	ASAPPO	$3,540
United	AllPayerAppendix	$4,027
United	AllPayerAppendix	$4,027
United	AllPayerAppendix	$4,027
United	AllPayerAppendix	$4,027

Key finding: At HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, 266 published 99283 rates run from $50.33 (Texas Health Network, MCD) to $4,027 (United, AllPayerAppendix), about 80x apart.

What to Do With These ER Visit Prices

Name the level the hospital billed. After the visit, find which of 99283, 99284 or 99285 appears on the facility bill. The level is set from the care given, so nobody can choose it in advance. If the bill shows a higher level than the care you remember, you can ask the billing office how that level was assigned and request a review.

Weigh cash against insured at one hospital. Of the 99 rows on this page, 99 show a published cash price, so each hospital can be compared with itself. At HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, 99283 cash is $2,771.96 while insured rates run up to $2,494.76. That pattern shows up in 68 rows, and 11 of 33 hospitals publish cash equal to gross. Other systems list cash well below their highest insured rate: Houston Methodist Hospital shows 99284 cash of $1,908. Hold your own bill or quote up against the row for your hospital and code.

Count the bills, then the lines. The hospital's facility fee is one bill. The ER physician often bills separately, and radiology or lab groups may send their own. The figures on this page cover the facility charge only. Ask for an itemized statement and check that tests, imaging and medications each appear as separate lines, and that none is listed twice.

Quote the code and the date of service when you call.
Ask which entity issued each bill you received.

Blanks and zeros. A cash or gross price shown as $0 or left blank would mean missing data, not a free service. This page has no such gaps in its 99 rows.

Financial assistance and discounts. Nonprofit hospitals are required to publish a financial assistance policy, and the billing office can send it with an application. Some hospitals also offer prompt-pay or self-pay discounts; these vary by hospital and are not included in this data. Assistance applications and discount requests can be made after the visit.

General information about using published prices, not medical, legal or financial advice. Confirm your own cost with the hospital and your insurer. Our methodology · Medical Disclaimer

What Patients Ask About ER Visit Costs

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

Without insurance, published cash prices for an ER visit in Houston range from $265.69 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital (99283) to $9,731.47 at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest (99285). All 99 price rows on this page have a published cash price, so none are missing. Eleven HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals publish cash equal to gross, with no self-pay discount. Among the rest, the highest cash price is $3,612.64 at Texas Children's Hospital (99285). These figures are facility charges only. Professional fees, such as the emergency physician's bill, are billed separately and are not included.

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

The gross charge is a hospital's full list price, which few patients pay in full. Cash prices are usually set well below it. Cash is 32% of gross at Memorial Hermann hospitals, 35% at St. Luke's Health (CommonSpirit) hospitals, 50% at Houston Methodist Hospital and 67% at Texas Children's Hospital. At Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital, cash is 52% of gross for 99283, 34% for 99284 and 38% for 99285. The 11 HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals that publish cash equal to gross show 100%, so no discount appears in their files. Gross charges on this page range from $511 to $9,731.47.

Does insurance cover a er visit?

Whether insurance applies to an ER visit and how much it pays depends on your specific plan, so the plan's own documents are the source for that. This page shows negotiated rates insurers have with each hospital. For example, insured rates at Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital for 99283 run from $274.22 to $521.02, while at Baylor St Luke's Medical Center they run from $30.82 to $3,983. If you have a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, you usually pay the plan's negotiated rate for the facility charge. In 39 rows, the cash price is above every insured rate at that hospital.

Are there additional fees beyond the er visit facility charge?

Yes. The facility charge covers the hospital's department, nursing care, equipment and supplies. Other bills often arrive separately. These can include the emergency physician's professional fee, fees for radiologists who read any imaging, and pathologist or laboratory fees. Separate charges may also apply for tests, imaging, medications, supplies and procedures performed during the visit, and for ambulance transport if used. Some of these providers bill independently of the hospital, so you may receive more than one statement for a single visit. The prices on this page cover only the facility charge for the three visit-level codes.

What is the cash price at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital in Houston?

Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital lists a cash price of $265.69 for 99283, $408.60 for 99284 and $588.31 for 99285. These are facility charges only, and physician fees are not included. The $265.69 figure is the lowest cash price on the Houston page, and all 99 rows have a published cash price.

What is the highest published ER visit price in Houston?

The highest published price is $9,731.47 at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest for code 99285. It is both the gross charge and the cash price there, since that hospital publishes no self-pay discount. This is a facility charge only. The lowest gross charge is $511 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital for 99283.

How much is the self-pay price for an ER visit at Houston Methodist Hospital?

Houston Methodist Hospital lists cash prices of $1,121 for 99283, $1,908 for 99284 and $2,376 for 99285. Each is 50% of the gross charge shown. These are facility charges only and do not include separate professional fees. No $0 or blank values appear for this hospital, so none of the figures are missing.

What do UnitedHealthcare rates for an ER visit look like in Houston hospitals?

UnitedHealthcare's lowest listed rate is $51.36 at St Luke's Brazosport, and its highest is $3,450.88 at Texas Children's Hospital. The median is $2,363.63 across 22 hospitals. The highest is about 67x the lowest. These are facility rates only, and actual costs depend on the individual plan.

What is the difference between ER visit codes 99283, 99284 and 99285 in Houston?

On this page, 99283 is ER Visit Level 3 (Moderate), 99284 is Level 4 (High/Urgent) and 99285 is Level 5 (Critical). Prices are listed per code, and the cash range runs from $265.69 for 99283 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital to $9,731.47 for 99285 at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest. All figures are facility charges only.

Compare Other Procedures in Houston

Echocardiogram Cost in Houston

Cash prices from $526.13 to $19,964.77.

Colonoscopy Cost in Houston

Cash prices from $462 to $1,835.24.

MRI Cost in Houston

Cash prices from $231.94 to $32,113.

Data Sources

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Hospital CMS transparency files typically range from tens of megabytes to several hundred megabytes. Clicking a link below will open the file in a new tab and may trigger a large download, which can consume mobile data or slow down older devices. These files are intended for data processing, not casual viewing.

Baylor St Luke's Medical Center

File updated: 2026-02-28 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Bradley Lembcke MD, Hospital President

We are not affiliated with Baylor St Luke's Medical Center. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer