Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) cost in Charlotte, NC
Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) costs $1,682 to $1,726 cash across 15 hospitals within 25 miles of Charlotte.
Price range near Charlotte
Each dot is one hospital’s published cash price — cheapest on the left, most expensive on the right. Hospital-by-hospital detail below.
Atrium Health Lincoln (4★) has the lowest price — $44 less than the most expensive option nearby.
Hospital prices near Charlotte
One hospital has a Medicare safety penalty
Medicare's Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program penalizes hospitals in the bottom 25% nationally for patient-safety outcomes. This is a federal classification — facts are on each hospital's profile.
→ Check individual hospital profiles for the full safety data before choosing for a complex procedure.
Information from published hospital prices and Medicare quality data. Not medical advice.
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What this price typically doesn't include
Procedure codes generally cover the procedure itself. Other services that often appear on the same bill are listed under separate codes — for example:
- Anesthesia (CPT 00xxx)
- Pathology, if a sample is taken (CPT 88xxx)
- Drugs administered during the visit (J-codes)
- Facility vs. professional split — one charge from the hospital, another from the doctor
- Room and board, if the procedure is inpatient
Asking what other codes might appear on the bill is a useful follow-up so the total is not a surprise. Once you receive the bill, asking for an itemized statement listing each service code separately makes it easier to match against the disclosed prices above.
Observations about billing-code conventions. Not medical advice. Not legal advice.
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Before you schedule
If you're paying out of pocket for a critical ER visit in Charlotte, you're looking at a massive range—anywhere from $368 to $1,726 depending on which hospital treats you. The Atrium Health hospitals (Pineville, Behavioral Health, University City) charge around $368 as a cash price, while Novant Health locations are nearly five times higher at $1,726. In an emergency, you won't choose your hospital, but if you're planning ahead or handling a bill after the fact, knowing this gap matters: the difference between these two networks could be $1,358 out of your pocket.
Before you're discharged or before you pay a bill, call the hospital's billing department and confirm the cash price for a critical ER visit—it can vary, so don't assume. If the final bill is higher than you can pay, ask immediately about financial assistance; many hospitals have programs that reduce or eliminate bills based on your income. Write down the names of nearby hospitals now so if you do need the ER, you know which ones are least expensive if circumstances allow you any choice at all.
Questions to ask when you call
Before scheduling, call the hospital's billing department. These are the exact questions that get you the answers you need.
"What is your cash price for Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5)?"
If you haven't met your deductible, the cash price may be lower than what your insurance negotiates. Many hospitals will honor their published cash price if you ask.
"What will my insurance plan pay for this, and what's my out-of-pocket?"
Get a written estimate. Ask them to include your deductible status and coinsurance percentage. This is called a "Good Faith Estimate" and you're legally entitled to one.
"Are there any other charges I should expect — radiologist, anesthesiologist, or facility fees?"
These prices are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, and anesthesiologist bill separately. Ask how much those could add.
Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) costs $1,682 at Atrium Health Lincoln (4-star CMS rating) and up to $1,726 at Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina — a 1.0x difference for the same procedure across 15 facilities. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,066.
About this market
Atrium Health operates 9 of 15 hospitals near Charlotte (60%). Prices across their facilities are identical — comparison between them won't save you money.
Atrium Health's price of $1,682 is below the North Carolina average of $2,066.
Lexington, NC · 83 mi away · Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist · 3★
41 insurance plans. Cheapest: Amerihealth Caritas. Most expensive: Multiplan.
What else you should know
View full data table
| Facility | Cash Price | Gross Charge | Stars | Patient Rating | Ownership | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atrium Health LincolnAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 4/5 | 80.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health UnionAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 74.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health PinevilleAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 72.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center-northeastAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center/behav HealthAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Stanly Regional Medical CenterAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health University CityAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 3/5 | 66.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Atrium Health ClevelandAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | 2/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health AnsonAtrium Health | $1,682 | $3,364 | — | 81.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Mint Hill Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | 4/5 | 81.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Matthews Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | 4/5 | 70.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Huntersville Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | 4/5 | 66.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | 4/5 | 65.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Rowan Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | 2/5 | 63.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Ballantyne Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,726 | $3,453 | — | 80.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
Common questions
How much does Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) cost in Charlotte, NC?
Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) costs between $1,682 and $1,726 at 15 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The median price is $1,682. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,066.
Which hospital is cheapest for Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) near Charlotte?
Atrium Health Lincoln has the lowest published cash price at $1,682. It has a 4-star CMS quality rating and 80.0% patient satisfaction.
Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?
No. In Charlotte, the lowest-priced facility (Atrium Health Lincoln) has a 4-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility.
Where does this pricing data come from?
All prices are from each hospital's federally mandated machine-readable file under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule (45 CFR Part 180). Quality ratings are from CMS Hospital Compare. We do not estimate prices. See full methodology →
How much can I save by choosing a different hospital?
The maximum savings for Emergency Room Visit — Critical (Level 5) near Charlotte is $44 — the difference between Atrium Health Lincoln ($1,682) and Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center ($1,726).
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Each hospital's prices come from its own published price file, dated per facility above. Quality and financial data compiled from CMS Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports, August 2026. Full methodology →