We finally went to the doctor for the ringing in our ears. You know what he told us? Not to answer it. 🥴📞
From broken bones to the black lung (AKA coal mine COVID), many Americans rely on a trip to the emergency room to clear things up. 🚑 However, those trips could cost you a pretty penny…and even put your credit score in the toilet.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on the cost of ER visits:
- 🚨 Dial 911 - ER visit costs vary, but the average for 2025 is $2,715. If you’re uninsured and in for something non-life-threatening, expect a bill somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000. Critical conditions could cost upwards of $20K.
- 🤕 Protect Yo Neck - If you've got insurance, a trip to the ER should run you anywhere from a goose egg to $500…if you’ve met your deductible. Depending on your insurance plan, you might have to fork over a copay or coinsurance.
- 📈 Big Ticket - If your ER trip turns into treatment for a critical or chronic condition, expect the price tag to jump. For heart attacks, the average hospital visit is around $21,400 (plus any ongoing care). A cancer diagnosis could run you well over $40,000 in that first year alone.
- 🩻 Extra Credit - Back in 2022, the government and the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) agreed to keep medical bills under $500 off Americans’ credit reports. In January, the Biden administration had plans to boost these protections, but that came to a halt when Trump took office.
- 🩺 Dr. Debt - How many Americans carry health-related debt? According to a recent poll, around 41%. Low and middle income Americans were the most likely to report medical debt as well as the uninsured.
🔥Bottom line: Medical debt is a total buzzkill but sometimes, it’s unavoidable. If you have insurance, always check your bills against your explanation of benefits (EOB) so you don’t pay what you don’t really owe. Another pro tip: call your medical care provider and see if they offer payment plans. You might even qualify for a discount - it never hurts to ask!
Take a recent trip to the ER?
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