What 482 hospitals charge vs. what insurers pay, from their own files

In plain words

This tool analyzes hospital pricing data from 482 US hospitals by examining their publicly required price files. It compares what hospitals list as charges for common services against what insurers actually pay for those same services. For example, a moderate ER visit carries a median list price of $1,285 but insurers pay a median of $288. The tool reveals significant discrepancies between published hospital rates and negotiated insurer payments across the healthcare system.

written from the facts on this page · October 2026

From the sources

Every US hospital must publish a file of its prices, including the rates it has negotiated with each insurer. We read the current files of 482 hospitals in 48 states and compared each hospital's list price for common services with what insurers actually pay it. The typical moderate ER visit is listed at $1,285 . Insurers pay a median of $288 . 64 % of hospitals list it at three times or more what insurers pay. Typical list price: the median, across hospitals, of each hospital's lowest published gross charge for the service. Typical insurer rate: the median, across hospitals, of each hospital's median negotiated rate. A list price is the hospital's full charge before any discount. Insured…from billmender.com

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