Compare 1033 emergency medicine physicians in Houston, TX. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1,033
Emergency Medicine Physicians
100%
Accepting patients
76%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on the planet. That single fact shapes everything about healthcare here. If your condition is treatable, someone in Houston can treat it. The challenge is navigating a metro that sprawls across 670 square miles with no zoning laws and limited public transit.
Houston has 1,033 emergency medicine physicians. The most common credential is MD (76%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
The Texas Medical Center sits south of downtown, accessible via I-69/US-59, the METRORail Red Line, and the 610 Loop. It contains over 60 institutions within a few square miles. For patients outside the loop, Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, and HCA each operate suburban hospitals in Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Pearland. Getting to any of them means driving, usually on a freeway.
Providers practice throughout Houston. The Heights is a popular residential area with independent practices and easy access to the Medical Center via I-45. Montrose is a diverse, walkable neighborhood with LGBTQ+ affirming care and proximity to the Texas Medical Center. Rice Village is adjacent to Rice University and the Medical Center, with specialist offices concentrated along University Boulevard. Midtown is a dense, central neighborhood with quick light-rail access to the Texas Medical Center.
Nearby hospitals include Houston Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Local training programs run through Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The Texas Medical Center in Houston is the largest medical complex in the world, with over 60 institutions.
Patients are triaged by severity, not arrival order. A nurse will assess your vital signs and chief complaint. You will see a physician who will order tests (blood work, imaging, EKG) as needed. Treatment begins immediately for emergencies. Wait times for non-urgent conditions can be long. Be prepared to describe your symptoms, list your medications, and share your medical history. Bring your insurance card and ID.
Choose your hospital system early. Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, and Baylor/St. Luke's each have their own networks of primary care and specialists. Crossing between systems means duplicate imaging, new patient intake, and potentially different patient portals.
Go to an emergency department for chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms (sudden weakness, speech problems, facial drooping), severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, seizures, severe allergic reactions, high fever with confusion, poisoning or overdose, major trauma, and any condition that feels life-threatening. Call 911 for the most serious emergencies.
ER visit copay: $150-500 · Average ER visit (total billed): $1,000-3,000 · CT scan in ER: $500-3,000 · Ambulance: $500-2,500
Houston, TX has 1,033 licensed emergency medicine physicians. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of emergency medicine physicians in Houston, TX are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Houston's employer insurance market leans toward Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. Harris Health System (with Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals) serves uninsured residents through its Gold Card financial assistance program. Texas did not expand Medicaid, so coverage gaps are wider here than in states that did. Marketplace plans through healthcare.gov are available with multiple carriers.
ER copays range from $150 to $500. The average total ER bill is $1,000 to $3,000. CT scans in the ER cost $500 to $3,000. An ambulance ride costs $500 to $2,500. Actual costs in Houston, TX depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Most insurance plans waive the ER copay if you are admitted to the hospital from the ER. For non-life-threatening issues, urgent care visits cost a fraction of ER visits. Use the ER for true emergencies only.
Houston's healthcare market is dominated by three systems: Houston Methodist (11 hospitals, strong cardiology and transplant), Memorial Hermann (17 hospitals, the city's largest system by bed count), and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine). MD Anderson operates independently for cancer care. Your choice of PCP within one of these systems shapes your referral path.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Houston, TX, 76% hold the MD credential and 9% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
62% of emergency medicine physicians in Houston, TX accept Medicare. Medicare covers emergency services at any hospital, including out-of-network facilities. Standard Part B cost-sharing applies. If admitted, the visit shifts to inpatient coverage. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
The Harris Health Gold Card is a financial assistance program for low-income, uninsured Harris County residents. It provides access to care at Ben Taub Hospital, LBJ Hospital, and Harris Health clinics. Eligibility is based on income (generally below 150% of the federal poverty level) and Harris County residency. You apply in person at a Harris Health eligibility office.
No. While the TMC houses globally recognized specialty centers like MD Anderson and Texas Heart Institute, it also has primary care clinics, urgent care, dental offices, and rehabilitation facilities. Many Houstonians use TMC-affiliated providers for routine care, especially if they work nearby.
Top accepted carriers in Houston, TX include qhp-33602, unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-17091, and qhp-11718.
ER visits have higher copays than regular visits, typically $150 to $500. Most plans waive the ER copay if you are admitted to the hospital. The ACA requires coverage of emergency services at in-network rates even at out-of-network facilities. The No Surprises Act protects you from surprise billing by out-of-network ER doctors. Follow-up care should be done with your regular doctor to avoid repeat ER costs.