What You Need to Know About Medical Emergency Care Costs

These days, routine emergency room trips turn into costly hospital stays more often than you’d guess. To make sure you’re prepared for your next ER visit, we’ve answered some common questions about what basic health care typically covers in emergency medical situations and how having supplemental hospital insurance can help you focus on your health, not your bills.

Infographic: What You Need to Know About Medical Emergency Care Costs

¹ United Press International: CDC: One-fifth of Americans visit ER once a year: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2018.htm?search=Emergency_department_visits Viewed September 16, 2019
² H-cup: Statistical Brief #227: Trends in Emergency Department Visits, September, 2017: https://www.thebalance.com/average-cost-of-an-er-visit-4176166
³ Kaiser Family Foundation: Hospital Adjusted Expenses per Inpatient Day, 2017: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/state-indicator/expenses-per-inpatient-day/
Features, Costs, Eligibility, Renewability, Limitations, and Exclusions are detailed in the group policy and brochure/website.

Common Questions

1. What are my odds of visiting an ER this year?

The number of people who end up in hospital emergency rooms each year is startling, recently climbing to a new record high.

Your odds of a visit?¹ Roughly one in five.

Click here to find out how the NEA Group Hospital Income Plan can help

2. How much does an ER visit cost?

Your bill for an average ER visit can easily run more than your monthly mortgage payment, especially if you don’t have health insurance or a reasonable co-pay. And that’s not counting the extra fees you’ll pay for bloodwork, IVs, drugs and other treatments – or expensive – ambulance ride. (With basic healthcare alone, you’re also on the hook for all deductibles, co-pays and other medical help you may need that isn’t plan-approved.)

Plus, the tab climbs higher if your need for emergency medical care lands you in an out-of-network facility. And if you need critical care, that one simple trip to the ER could end up costing you well over $20,000.²

Click here to find out how the NEA Group Hospital Income Plan can help

3. How common is it for an ER visit to turn into a hospital stay?

The shocking fact is that the hospital emergency room is fast becoming the first stop before admission to the hospital for a longer stay. More than half of all hospital patients are admitted by way of a simple trip to the ER.³

Click here to find out how the NEA Group Hospital Income Plan can help

4. How much does an average hospital stay cost?

According to HealthCare.gov, the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is now around $30,000⁴. Given that, it’s not surprising that in today’s world, over 66% of all bankruptcies are related to medical issues.⁵

Bottom line: Even if you have a “good” standard medical insurance plan, the current trend toward higher deductibles, rising health care costs and narrower provider networks means you’ll be digging deeper than ever to come up with your share of expenses.

Click here to find out how the NEA Group Hospital Income Plan can help

5. How can the NEA Group Hospital Income Insurance Plan help?

Basic health insurance is only designed to help pay for your healthcare needs – not pick up the full tab. Unfortunately, often it’s not until after a claim that you discover all the things basic health insurance won’t pay for – deductibles, co-pays, medications, out-of-network care and more.

That’s where the NEA Group Hospital Income Plan comes in.

As an NEA member, you can bolster your basic health insurance with NEA supplemental hospital protection that pays you up to an extra $500 a day in cash, every single day of your covered hospitalization. No waiting periods. No deductibles. No network hassles.

What’s more, that cash goes directly to you. It’s yours to spend any way you choose, with absolutely no restrictions whatsoever. Put it toward your ER or hospital bill, pay for any prescriptions you may need, cover personal bills, or use it however you like.

Plus, this exclusive NEA Group Hospital Income Plan coverage is 100% guaranteed to you and your spouse (as long as you are under age 80), with no exams or lengthy health applications necessary – all at competitive group rates.

Click here to get access to the complete protection you deserve with the NEA Group Hospital Income Insurance Plan.

Family and wellness savings for NEA members

NEA^® In-Hospital Indemnity Plan

A Voluntary Hospital Indemnity coverage issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America. This coverage pays a benefit for hospital admission and daily ICU stays. This coverage is guaranteed and no medical exams are needed.

Learn More