Emergency room visit (high severity) in Massachusetts
Below is what hospitals in Massachusetts charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 5 hospitals in Massachusetts run from $687 to $1,922. The typical hospital charges $1,873. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $1,873
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
5 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Cod Hospital Hyannis, MA | $687Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $1,617 | Lowest price of any hospital | — | $1,617 |
| Boston Medical Center Boston, MA | $950Insurance typically pays $513Sticker price $2,111 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | $513 | $2,111 |
| Brigham And Women'S Hospital Boston, MA · Price file March 27, 2026 | $1,873Insurance typically pays $506Sticker price $2,497 | Cheaper than 50% of hospitals | $506 | $2,497 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA · Price file March 27, 2026 | $1,873Insurance typically pays $506Sticker price $2,497 | Cheaper than 50% of hospitals | $506 | $2,497 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center MA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,922Insurance typically pays $103Sticker price $1,922 | Highest price of any hospital | $103 | $1,922 |
Procedure code 99284. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.