Emergency Room Visit Cost in Scranton, PA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a emergency room visit cost in Scranton, PA?

The same emergency room visit in Scranton, PA might cost you $1,890 at one facility and $3,362 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 2 reporting hospitals is $2,626. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Pennsylvania has a highly fragmented hospital market - Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple Health, and Tower Health compete in Philadelphia; UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network are engaged in one of the country's most litigated payer-provider disputes in Pittsburgh. The UPMC vs. Highmark conflict has directly affected patients' ability to use their insurance at in-network facilities. Rural Pennsylvania prices are substantially lower than the two major metro markets. Emergency room costs are driven by two separate charges: the facility fee (which varies by ER level, E1–E5) and the physician fee (billed by an independent emergency medicine group). Most patients are unaware that ER physicians are frequently out-of-network even when the hospital itself is in-network - the No Surprises Act limits your liability in this case, but billing disputes still occur. Using an urgent care center for non-emergency conditions typically costs 80–90% less than an ER visit for equivalent care.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $786 versus $4,466 inpatient (about 5.7× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Facility fees for emergency care scale with the severity level the hospital assigns your visit, which is why two visits that look similar from the exam table can bill very differently.

On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.

Frequently asked questions: emergency room visit costs in Scranton, PA

How much does an emergency room visit cost in Scranton, PA?

Across 2 Scranton, PA hospitals that publish prices, an emergency room visit ranges from $786 to $4,466, with a median of $2,626. Most facilities fall between $1,706 and $3,362. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an emergency room visit in Scranton, PA?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Scranton, PA data is Abrazo Arrowhead Campus in Glendale at about $786. Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an emergency room visit so much cheaper at some Scranton, PA hospitals?

Prices vary up to 5.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Scranton, PA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $2,626 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,589 - about 1.7× higher. Asking for the cash price or your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for an emergency room visit in Scranton, PA?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).