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Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 (Low Complexity)

California rates for HCPCS 99283

An emergency department visit involving a patient history and physical examination, with low-complexity medical decision-making. This is the third of the five visit levels, above the straightforward level and below the moderate-complexity level. The extent of the history and examination is whatever is medically appropriate.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 (Low Complexity) cost?

$163

Typical total for the visit. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $163 for this emergency department visit. That total is two separate charges billed under the same code: $75.86 to the emergency physician who treats you, and $87.10 to the hospital for the emergency department itself. Tests, imaging and treatments during the visit are billed separately.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 14 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe emergency physician who treats you$75.86$66.07 to $145
Facility feeThe hospital emergency department$87.10$75.86 to $107

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $87 · 10th to 90th $66 to $151Professionalmedian $76 · 10th to 90th $52 to $229
$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0$500.0$1.0K$2.0Kfacility $87professional $76

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$295.12
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$204.17
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$269.15
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$169.82
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$331.13
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$177.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$190.55
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$269.15
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$446.68
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$724.44
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$239.88
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$138.04
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$190.55
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$83.18
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$177.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$95.50

Where California sits

The same service costs 44.5 times more in Vermont than in New Hampshire. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility feeCalifornia $163 · 27th of 44
VT $5,446NH $122

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.