How much does urgent care cost?

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Urgent Care?

The cost of urgent care varies depending on the location and the type of medical care that you receive. Additionally, your insurance coverage may also affect your cost.

On average, the cost of a visit to an urgent care center can range from $32 to $175, according to research conducted by Forbes in 2023. It's important to note that these costs are often less expensive than a visit to an emergency room, as noted by Debt.org. However, these costs may not include the cost of any diagnostic tests or follow-up care that may be needed.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Urgent Care

As mentioned, there are some factors that can affect the cost of your urgent care services. One of the biggest factors, according to Forbes, is whether or not you have health insurance. If you do have insurance that is compatible with your urgent care facility, your out-of-pocket costs, known as a co payment, will likely be lower. However, if you don't have insurance, you may be responsible for the full cost of your visit.

Another factor that can affect the cost of urgent care is the type of service you need. For example, a visit for medication or an immunization may be less expensive than a more complex procedure or testing.

Comparison of Urgent Care Costs to Other Healthcare Options

Compared to other healthcare options, such as visiting the emergency room or seeing your primary care physician, urgent care is often a more affordable choice. According to Debt.org, an emergency room visit is around 10 times more expensive than visiting an urgent care clinic.

According to United Healthcare, the average cost of an in-person visit to a primary care provider is around $170, however, most primary care offices are only open during traditional business hours and may not have the ability to run diagnostic tests such as x-rays and lab services, which are available in many urgent care clinics.

Can Urgent Care Bill You Later?

Every urgent care clinic has its own policy regarding payment for services. Some urgent care clinics require payment at the time of service. This means that you will be asked to pay your copay or deductible before you leave the clinic. If you do not have insurance, you may be required to pay the full amount of the visit before you leave.

Some urgent care clinics may be able to bill patients after the visit. The best way to know how your urgent care clinic handles its billing is to ask them. You can call before your appointment or look at their website for more information.

How to Handle Unexpected Bills from Urgent Care

If you receive an unexpected bill from an urgent care clinic, the first thing you should do is review the bill to ensure that it is accurate. Be sure to check the date of service, which services were provided, and the name of the patient or responsible party. Although billing mistakes are very rare, they can happen.

If you have insurance, you should contact your insurance company to determine why the claim was denied. If you do not have insurance, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan with the urgent care clinic.

It is important to note that some urgent care clinics may send bills to collections if they are not paid in a timely manner. If you receive a bill from a collection agency, you should contact the collection agency and negotiate a payment plan.

How Much Is Urgent Care With Insurance?

When you have insurance, the cost of urgent care can vary depending on your plan. Some insurance plans cover the full cost of urgent care visits, while others require you to pay a copay or coinsurance. Copays are a fixed amount you pay upfront for a visit, while coinsurance is a percentage of the total cost you are responsible for paying, according to United Healthcare.

Types of Insurance That Cover Urgent Care

Many popular insurance plans cover urgent care visits, including private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. However, it's important to check with your insurance provider to see what your specific plan covers.

How to Find Out If Your Insurance Covers Urgent Care

To find out if your insurance covers urgent care, you can check your plan documents or call your insurance provider. You can also check with the urgent care clinic you plan to visit to see if they accept your insurance. It's important to note that even if your insurance covers urgent care, you may still be responsible for paying a copay or coinsurance.

Can You Pay Cash at Urgent Care?

When it comes to payment options at urgent care clinics, you can expect that they accept a variety of payment methods. This includes insurance, credit cards, and cash. Some facilities may also accept personal checks, but it's always best to check with the specific urgent care facility beforehand to confirm.

If you are paying for your visit without insurance coverage, you may want to ask the clinic about their self-pay options. Some clinics offer payment plans or have a sliding scale fee based on income. Some clinics offer a ‘cash discount’ rate that may be cheaper than your high deductible health plan.

When paying out of pocket for urgent care, it's important to ask about the cost of services upfront. This can help you avoid any surprises when it comes time to pay.

Does Urgent Care Do Payment Plans?

Healthcare costs are a concern for many Americans. Fortunately, some urgent care clinics offer payment plans to help you pay for your medical care over time. Payment plans allow you to spread out the cost of your treatment, making it more affordable and manageable.

The payment plan options available at urgent care facilities may vary depending on the location and the provider. Some facilities may offer interest-free payment plans, while others may charge interest, according to Experian. It's important to ask about the payment plan options available before receiving treatment so that you can make an informed decision.

How to Set Up a Payment Plan at Urgent Care

To set up a payment plan with urgent care, you will need to speak with the billing department at the clinic where you received treatment. They will be able to provide you with information about any available payment plan options and help you choose the best one for your needs.

When setting up a payment plan, you may need to provide some basic information, such as your name, address, and contact information. In some cases, Experian notes that you may also need to provide information about your income and expenses to help determine your monthly payment amount.

Pros and Cons of Using a Payment Plan

Using a payment plan to pay for your urgent care bills can have both advantages and disadvantages, according to Experian. Some of the pros of using a payment plan include:

• The ability to spread out the cost of your treatment over time, making it more affordable

• The flexibility to choose a payment plan that fits your budget and financial situation

• The option to pay off your bills without accruing interest (if interest-free payment plans are available)

However, there are also some cons to using a payment plan, such as:

• The potential for interest charges to accrue (if interest is charged on the payment plan)

• The need to make monthly payments, which can be challenging if you are on a tight budget

• The possibility of damaging your credit score if you are unable to make payments on time

Overall, payment plans can be a helpful option for those who are unable to pay their medical bills at the time of treatment. However, it's important to carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Urgent Care Costs with Medicaid

Medicaid may be able to cover some or all of the cost of urgent care, but this depends on your state, according to HealthNews.com. Any costs that you pay will depend on your specific Medicaid plan, the urgent care location that you visit, and the services that you receive.

Types of Medicaid That May Cover Urgent Care

Types of Medicaid, according to Mediciad.gov, include:

• Traditional Medicaid

• Medicaid Managed Care

• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Each type of Medicaid may cover urgent care visits, however, coverage will depend on your state. You can learn about your urgent care coverage information by contacting your case manager, looking at your coverage paperwork, or talking to the urgent care clinic.

When to go to Urgent Care

Urgent care clinics are designed to handle non-life-threatening medical conditions. This includes minor illnesses and injuries, according to Scripps.org, some common ailments that can be treated at urgent care include:

• Sore throat, and other symptoms of cold, flu, bronchitis, or strep throat

• Symptoms of COVID-19

• Symptoms of UTI

• Symptoms of STDs

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Signs of infection, like a fever that doesn’t go away with fever-reducing medication

• Small cuts or laceration repair that may need stitches

• Simple fractures

• Back pain

• Allergic reactions and skin rashes

• Routine physicals (like sports physicals or DOT physicals)

• Immunizations

Is Urgent Care Cheaper Than ER?

Urgent care clinics are generally less expensive than emergency rooms. In fact, according to Debt.org, going to an emergency room can be around 10 times more expensive than visiting an urgent care clinic.

According to United Health, the average cost of an ER visit is around $2,600, while the average cost of a visit to urgent care (including testing) is around $185.

Cost of Urgent Care vs. ER Visits

The cost of urgent care and ER visits can vary depending on several factors. Since both urgent care clinics and emergency rooms typically charge based on the services provided, it is difficult to calculate your specific costs. You may be able to call ahead to your urgent care clinic and ask what their costs are for an exam and routine testing.

How to Avoid High Costs at Urgent Care

To avoid high costs at urgent care facilities, consider the following strategies from Cigna:

• In-network providers: Choose urgent care centers that are in-network with your insurance plan to benefit from negotiated rates and avoid out-of-network charges.

• Understand your insurance coverage: Familiarize yourself with your insurance plan's coverage for urgent care visits, including copayments, deductibles, and any additional costs.

• Use telemedicine when appropriate: Some healthcare providers offer telemedicine services for minor ailments, which can be a cost-effective alternative to in-person urgent care visits.

• Seek community health centers: Look for community health centers or clinics that provide low-cost or sliding-scale fee services for individuals without insurance or with limited financial resources.

• Compare costs: If possible, research and compare the costs of urgent care services at different facilities to find the most affordable option.

By being proactive and informed, you can take steps to minimize the financial impact of urgent care visits.

Going to Urgent Care

Getting timely medical care is important for maintaining good health and preventing serious medical conditions. Delaying medical care can sometimes lead to complications and even death, according to the NIH.

Whether or not you have insurance, urgent care clinics are a great choice for getting high-quality healthcare at a more affordable cost.

Find urgent care clinics near you by searching Solv.