How much does antivenom cost at NC hospitals? You may need it after a snake bite
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As North Carolinians bask in warm weather, so too do our state’s snakes, raising the likelihood of bites.
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Copperhead bites are the most common venomous snake bite in North Carolina. They may be treated with antivenom, sometimes called antivenin. Copperhead bites are almost never fatal but antivenom is sometimes necessary.
Doctors and veterinarians both say patients (furry or not) should seek medical care if they are bitten. Depending on the severity, patients may need antivenom.
WakeMed emergency physician Dr. Benjamin German said it depends on the severity of the bite. Some are dry, meaning the snake does not envenomate the person it bites, and some can cause severe symptoms.
“The venom has to enter the tissue, and so I’ve seen a couple of cases this year, where people got lucky and they really didn’t have any significant pain or swelling,” German said. “For those patients, we observe them in the emergency department, typically for several hours, because we want to make sure that we don’t send them home, and then an hour after they get home, it turns out they did get some venom in the tissue.”
Other patients draw the short stick, and experience severe symptoms.
Possible symptoms, per North Carolina Blue Cross and Blue Shield:
German said the worst case he has seen this year was a man who was bitten once on each hand when he mistook a copperhead for a nonvenomous snake and picked it up. EMS put him on an IV, gave him fluids and supported his airway, but he was still demonstrating signs of shock when he got to the hospital.
“Even at the hospital, his blood pressure was low, he was demonstrating signs of shock, and so he required aggressive treatment … because that potentially could have been a fatal thing,” German said.
The copperhead is a pit viper, or crotalid. There are two FDA-approved crotalid antivenom options: Crofab and Anavip.
Most snake bite fatalities each year are not from copperheads, but it isn’t impossible. While you may not need antivenom, here’s how much it’ll cost you if you do.
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The Charlotte Observer contacted four health systems to ask the cost of antivenom.
Novant did not share the cost of care.
“Typically if they need to give more antivenom, then they’re going to bill for the additional vials of antivenom, and it’s one reason why we try to be judicious about it,” German said. “We don’t want to give any more than we need to give, primarily not to waste a valuable resource, but also not to have the patient incur more charges.”
As Wolf said, most health insurance covers snake bite care and antivenom, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Typically, snake bite care is emergency care, and will be billed as such. Plan copays and deductibles will apply.
Hospitals may offer financial assistance programs for those who are uninsured.
The best way to avoid being bitten is to be aware of the snakes in your area and stay away from them. The News and Observer recently reported on where copperheads are, and how to avoid them.
If you are bitten, here’s a list of dos and don’ts from North Carolina Poison Control:
If bitten, do:
If bitten, don’t:
If a snakebite victim is having chest pain, difficulty breathing, face swelling, or has lost consciousness, call 911 immediately.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 1:58 PM.
