learn what other users had to say about

the Cost of Emergency Room Visits for Illness

Price 
Location 
Submitted by  
Description
$ 125
Jun 2007
Oakland, CA
vomiting and shaking
HMO Emergency Room Visit  more... close row

Description of service

I went to the emergency room of an HMO because I was having uncontrollable vomiting and shaking.

I was seen for $100, had a bunch of tests run for free, and got medication for $25.


Review of Service

I saw the triage nurse immediately, then waited about an hour to be officially admitted. When I was admitted, I lay on a bed in the hall for another hour until apparently somebody got tired of me throwing up in public and put me in a room.

Once in the room, it took about 45 minutes for the nurse to come in and attach an IV (at this point, my boyfriend was in there to keep me company, but he had to sit on the counter, as there were no chairs). Then, about an hour after that, the doctor came in and asked me the same questions as the triage nurse had. He ordered a bunch of tests and left.

The nurse came in to take blood for the tests and change the IV. The doctor had said that he would tell the nurse to turn the IV "up" (make it go faster) but the nurse didn't want to so my boyfriend did when no one was looking.

Then it was time for the shift change, so I got a new doctor and nurse and had to explain everything all over again. The doctor said he would check on the tests and disappeared for almost another hour.

After six hours in the ER, I was finally told that they had no idea what was wrong with me and given a prescription for anti-nausea medication.


Tips

Obviously, this service was less than ideal, but due to my health insurance, I didn't have a choice about where to go. The hospital was crowded and stark and dirty with way too many patients and not enough staff.

I guess this is something that you should think about before choosing an insurance company, if you get a choice. See if you have options about where to go for services and talk to people who have been to those hospitals.


$ 29
Feb 2008
Houston, TX
high blood pressure
Never treated for high blood pressure  more... close row
$ 598
Sep 2007
Everett, WA
Musculoskeletal Chest Pain
Pain in chest with pre-existing heart condition  more... close row
$ 19
Sep 2007
Seattle, WA
rash
Local Health Cooperative Emergency Room Visit  more... close row
$ 3755
Apr 2008
Ashland, Ky
kidney infection
Bad kidney infection  more... close row
$ 440
Jun 2008
Loma Linda, CA
Cat bite on wrist
Infection from cat bite  more... close row
$ 100
Apr 2008
Columbus, Ohio
Stomach Flu
Long wait for stomach flu treatment  more... close row
$ 100
Apr 2008
Ashland, KY
Pain all over, Fainting
Kidney infection sent wife to the emergency room  more... close row
$ 1000
May 2008
Akron OH
Stomach pain
Emergency room visists expensive but necessary  more... close row
$ 1083
Feb 2008
Highlands, NC
Withdrawal from pain medication
Withdrawal from pain medication  more... close row
$ 721
Nov 2007
Blue Ridge, Ga
105 temperature
Emergency room visit for son with 105 fever  more... close row
$ 275
Dec 2007
Pine Bluff, AR
swollen cheek, looked like mumps
Did not get to see a doctor at the emergency room  more... close row