Longest Emergency Room Wait Times by State (2024)

While America has always suffered long wait times in the ER, the COVID-19 pandemic put an enormous burden on the country’s hospitals. Everyone from doctors to nurses, staff to patients, has struggled to keep up with the heavy influx of ER visitors.

In states that were hit particularly hard by COVID, some hospitals had to turn people away because there were no intensive care beds available. People suffering from less pressing emergencies were also sent elsewhere to make room for COVID sufferers.

While the pandemic is dying down, wait times at ERs are still longer than they used to be. After all, COVID isn’t the only thing sending people to the ER — car accidents and traffic fatalities are on the rise, as well. With the high price of health insurance, rising medical expenses, and long wait times, it’s no wonder Americans everywhere worry about having an emergency.

Read on to learn about average ER wait times in your state, then compare health insurance rates to make sure any ER visit you need to make is covered.

Which states have the longest wait times?

Visiting an ER is never a pleasant experience, whether you’re experiencing a medical emergency or you’re there as support. The average ER wait time in America is 145 minutes, but you’ll have to wait much longer in some states. Here are the top 15 states with the longest ER wait times:

• Maryland. 228 minutes
• Delaware. 195 minutes
• Massachusetts. 189 minutes
• Rhode Island. 185 minutes
• New York. 184 minutes
• Arizona. 176 minutes
• New Jersey. 173 minutes
• Connecticut. 166 minutes
• California. 164 minutes
• Illinois. 157 minutes
• North Carolina. 157 minutes
• Oregon. 157 minutes
• Pennsylvania. 157 minutes
• Florida. 155 minutes
• New Hampshire. 154 minutes

The reason behind wait times varies by state. For example, Maryland — the state with the longest wait time — lacks other types of healthcare. Maryland experts report that the state lacks primary and behavioral healthcare options that would keep people out of the ER.

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Which states have the shortest wait times?

While some states have abnormally long ER wait times, others stay well below the national average. Here are the top 10 states for the shortest ER wait times:

• North Dakota. 104 minutes
• South Dakota. 113 minutes
• Nebraska. 114 minutes
• Oklahoma. 115 minutes
• Hawaii. 117 minutes
• Kansas. 117 minutes
• Iowa. 123 minutes
• Mississippi. 124 minutes
• Arkansas. 127 minutes
• Montana. 127 minutes

Like states with long wait times, there are many reasons for faster ER lines. The population density in many of these states is lower, meaning fewer people visit the ER. Others have invested in alternative healthcare methods, such as urgent care facilities and primary care doctors.

Another unfortunate reason some states have shorter ER wait times is higher rates ofuninsured residents. For example, more than 10% of people in South Dakota do not have health insurance, and 13% of Mississippi residents are uninsured.

While a hospital can’t deny you life-saving treatment if you don’t have health insurance, many Americans avoid going to the hospital until it’s absolutely necessary to avoid costly bills.

What causes long ER wait times?

A variety of reasons cause long wait times in American ERs. To understand why wait times seem to stretch forever, you need to know how the ER prioritizes patients.

When you arrive at the ER, you receive a priority rating based on your health situation. There are five priority levels in the ER:

• Resuscitation. This level is the highest priority and means the patient will die if they don’t get immediate help. ERs aim to respond to this level within five minutes of arrival.
• Emergent. While not quite as urgent as the first level, emergent patients still need immediate help. The ER staff tries to help these patients within 15 minutes.
• Urgent. This level is not immediately life-threatening but could quickly become so. Urgent patients should be seen within 30 minutes.
• Less urgent. For non-life-threatening conditions, the ER staff will try to see you within 60 minutes.
• Nonurgent. Many people go to the ER because they have nowhere else to get treatment. If you need non-emergency care, the hospital will try to see you within 120 minutes.

This system of prioritization explains why you might see that people who arrive after you are taken to a room before you.

However, there are many other reasons why your ER wait time can be so high. In states like Maryland, there simply aren’t enough alternative options for healthcare. Regions struggling with drug problems also have longer ER wait times due to dealing with overdoses.

Of course, the most significant impact on recent ER wait times has been COVID. Although fewer people are winding up in the hospital today, hospitals struggled for two years to keep up. As an example of the impact COVID had, the average wait time before the pandemic was a short 40 minutes.

Increased patient numbers weren’t the only way COVID affected ER wait times. Hospitals around the country are experiencing staff shortages that make it difficult for ERs to keep up with healthcare demands.

How can you reduce your ER wait time?

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that you can do to reduce your wait time in an ER. However, there are a few things you can do to make sure you spend the least amount of time waiting as possible:

• Bring someone with you. Having someone who can communicate clearly while you deal with your injury or illness can make the check-in process much quicker.
• Bring ID with you. Most hospitals require your information before you can see a doctor. Having your ID and insurance card with you can save you time.
• Check if you can book online. Hospitals are increasingly offering the option to virtually check in to the ER room so you can come when your room is ready. Check the hospital website to see if this option is available.

You can also avoid long wait times by making sure you visit the ER for the right reason. A trip to the ER is suggested if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Fainting or dizziness
• Wheezing, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath
• Unstoppable bleeding
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Blood in your urine or diarrhea
• Abdominal pain, especially in a localized spot
• Displaced or open wound fractures
• Sudden numbness or weakness
• Confusion or other sudden changes in your mental status
• Severe headache or head injury
• Sudden loss of your ability to see, hear, walk, or move
• Fever with convulsions
• Fever in an infant under three months old

If you have symptoms like a sore throat, coughing, earaches, mild injuries, or rashes, you can skip the ER and visit urgent care instead.

Of course, you should never downplay your symptoms. If you think you need to go to the ER, you should go.

Does not having insurance make your wait time longer?

Hospitals have had to accept all patients to the ER no matter their insurance status since 1986. You won’t face a longer wait time in an ER if you don’t have insurance. Keep in mind that you’ll wait longer if your emergency isn’t as urgent as others, but it won’t be because of your insurance status.

You might find yourself under pressure to leave quicker, though. Data suggests that uninsured patients are more likely to be discharged early, transferred to another hospital, or completely released before they feel ready to leave.

Like car insurance, health coverage offers invaluable protection in case of an emergency. However, health insurance is much more expensive than the coverage for your vehicle, especially if you don’t get it through your employer.

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Find Affordable Health Insurance Today

Having health insurance before you need to visit the ER can save you valuable processing time and tens of thousands of dollars. The right coverage can also make the difference between staying in the hospital as long as you need to and leaving early.

Unfortunately, health insurance can be expensive, especially if you need to buy it privately. You can find the best price possible by comparing rates with as many companies as possible.

 References

1. https://howmuch.net/articles/health-insurance-coverage-in-the-us
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/why-are-wait-times-so-long-in-emergency-rooms/2020/05/29/405204b8-a056-11ea-81bb-c2f70f01034b_story.html

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