What common medical visits cost in Alabama - and how they compare to nearby states

In the patchwork of health care providers in the United States, determining what a medical visit might cost can be confusing at best and life-altering at worst. The vast majority of patients who arrive at the hospital for a service recommended by their doctor do so without knowing the cost of that treatment. The price tag on most medical visits is so high for the uninsured, a full one-third of all money raised on GoFundMe is for health care costs.

A raft of legislation in nearly every state is set on tackling some of these endemic issues, with energy aimed squarely at lowering costs and expanding access. Some of this legislation is grand in scope, notably in states like New York where legislators are looking to put a public option on the table for residents there. Other states are taking a narrower approach, requiring providers to release price lists so patients are aware of what their care will cost.

Stacker analyzed cost data released on June 8, 2021, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, common provider data from Verywell Health, and state zip codes from Simplemaps to find the average out-of-pocket cost for three typical medical visits in each state.

Alabama

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $99.34 for established patients ($85.95 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.83 for established patients ($21.49 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $99.34 for established patients ($129.06 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.83 for established patients ($32.26 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $99.34 for established patients ($85.95 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.83 for established patients ($21.49 for new patients)

One of Alabama's most serious medical issues sending patients to doctors and hospitals alike is prescription drug abuse. State legislature cracked down on so-called "doctor shopping" in 2021 with legislation that may decrease some of these case numbers. New legislation requires doctors to submit prescription information to a centralized database to prohibit abuse.

Some trends held steady across most states. For family practice and pediatric visits, new patients often pay less than established patients. For internal medicine visits, new patients frequently pay more than established patients. Both of these trends exist regardless of insurance type.

Transparency is increasingly paramount in American health care. Keep reading for a look at what common medical visits cost in neighboring states and the state-level factors that may influence these costs.

Mississippi

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $96.18 for established patients ($82.96 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.04 for established patients ($20.74 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $96.18 for established patients ($124.83 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.04 for established patients ($31.21 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $96.18 for established patients ($82.96 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.04 for established patients ($20.74 for new patients)

The state of Mississippi claims that it cannot afford to expand Medicare. Economists have pushed back, publishing a report showing that the expansion would pay for itself and the state would incur no new costs. As it stands, Mississippi's inaction has left many residents uninsured or underinsured.

Tennessee

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.85 for established patients ($84.32 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.46 for established patients ($21.08 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.85 for established patients ($126.53 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.46 for established patients ($31.63 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.85 for established patients ($84.32 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.46 for established patients ($21.08 for new patients)

Using federal grants to pay for Medicaid for residents has long been a contentious issue in Tennessee. In 2019, the state legislature even enacted a bill requiring the governor to seek permission before converting federal funds into a block grant that would pay for Medicaid expansion.