What is the average cost of an urgent care center visit in the US?
Asked by: Kevin Adams | Last update: April 17, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (31 votes)
What is the average cost of an urgent care visit in the US?
The average cost for a walk-in urgent care clinic is $258 in the U.S. without insurance. With insurance, you should expect to pay $150-$300 before meeting deductible and about $60-$170 copay after meeting the deductible.
Does urgent care cost more than an office visit?
The average cost for an urgent care visit ranges from $75 to $150, depending on the service. You'll likely pay a copay, which can be higher than that for primary care visits but far less than emergency room costs. If you need additional services like lab tests or X-rays, those can increase the overall urgent care cost.
What is the average reimbursement rate for urgent care?
The average reimbursement of $123 is consistent with the four-year trend of $124 per visit. Clinics in the lowest 20 percent based on average reimbursement received $100 or less per visit, while clinics in the highest 20 percent received $150 or more per visit. [Figure F.] FIGURE F.
Is urgent care more expensive than regular?
Despite urgent care's reputation for being more expensive than primary care, the costs of these services are usually quite similar, especially for individuals with insurance.
Answering Your Questions About Working in an Urgent Care as a New Nurse Practitioner
Is it cheaper to go to primary care or urgent care?
Urgent care centers typically charge more than a visit to your primary care physician but are still far more affordable than the emergency room. On average, an urgent care visit costs $150 to $200, while a primary care appointment is $75 to $150.
Is Minute Clinic or urgent care cheaper?
Walk-in clinics are an affordable option for non-emergency care. MinuteClinic® costs an average of 40% less versus an urgent care center 1 and 85% less versus the emergency room 2.
What is a good copay for urgent care?
Urgent care visits are billed similarly to primary care visits, but will typically carry a slightly higher copay. For example, if your primary care provider copay is $20, it's normal to see a $40-$65 copay for urgent care visits. But the same insurance plan may carry a $350 copay for an emergency room visit.
Can you negotiate urgent care bill?
Healthcare providers' billing offices are used to negotiating. Do not hesitate to ask for a reduced fee if a medical bill is too high for you or your family. Other options include applying for Medicaid if you are eligible or asking for a payment plan if you cannot get a reduced cost.
Why is my copay so high for urgent care?
Urgent care centers have higher copays due to increased overhead costs and the need for immediate, unscheduled care. Despite higher copays, urgent care is cheaper than an emergency room visit, which can cost over $2,000 per visit.
Is it better to go to a walk in clinic or urgent care?
A walk-in clinic is really similar to an urgent care clinic, but there are some key differences. Like walk-in clinics, urgent care clinics provide convenient, affordable, and basic medical care, but they typically have at least one certified doctor, and they can provide a higher level of care than walk-in clinics do.
Is urgent care a lot of money?
While a visit to an urgent care center usually costs more than a medical office appointment, it's often more affordable than going to an emergency room. Plus, urgent care clinics offer the convenience of extended hours and walk-in availability without the need for appointments.
Where is the cheapest place to see a doctor?
Your first choice are community health centers. Sometimes called a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), these are government-run clinics that offer services on a sliding scale. Sometimes, this even means that care is at no-cost.
How much is an urgent care visit with insurance?
According to Debt.org, the average cost of an urgent care visit is anywhere between $100 to $200 depending on your copay or clinic costs. When looking at the question of “how much does an urgent care visit cost without insurance?”, you'll find it's slightly more expensive, with an average of $175 for services rendered.
What are some disadvantages of urgent care?
- Lack of Continuity: Primary care physicians build long-term relationships with patients, understanding their medical histories and providing consistent care. ...
- Higher Costs for Routine Care: ...
- Limited Scope of Services: ...
- Coordination of Care:
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover urgent care?
BlueCross BlueShield covers a variety of urgent care services, including treatment for minor injuries, illnesses, lab tests, and preventive care.
What is the average reimbursement for urgent care?
According to the DocuTap research recorded on the urgent care quarterly, from 2013 to 2016, the average reimbursement per urgent care visit was a $124, with a high of $126 in 2014 and a low of $123 in 2016.
Will urgent care see you if you can't pay?
However, health insurance is expensive, particularly if you don't have an employer making the contributions. Most urgent care centers accommodate patients without insurance based on a financial assessment.
Why is urgent care cheaper than ER?
The average co-pay for insured patients can be as much as four times more expensive than an urgent care co-pay. Emergency centers are much more expensive than urgent care services because the resources are sparse and intended to only be used for serious, life-threatening issues.
How are urgent care visits billed?
Billing at urgent care centers works much like it does at any other healthcare provider. After your visit, the urgent care center processes your bill based on the services you received, the type of insurance you have (if any), and any additional factors that might influence the final amount.
Can urgent care refuse to see you?
Who Can Be Turned Away? Under the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA), emergency rooms must treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. This law does not apply to urgent care facilities. Urgent care centers can legally turn you away and refer you to the emergency room instead.
What to say when you walk into urgent care?
- Do you have a family doctor/GP? (You can tell her your doctor's name in your country.)
- Why do you need to see a doctor today?
- What is your medical concern?
- How long have you had this problem/these symptoms?
- Are you taking any medication?
- Do you have any allergies?
Is urgent care more expensive at night?
While urgent care centers are more affordable than emergency care, arriving at an urgent care center during late night hours and on the weekends can make your bill increase in cost.
Is it cheaper to go to urgent care or primary doctor?
Urgent care facilities, like American Family Care, are designed to provide immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions outside regular office hours. Visits to your primary care doctor's office have lower upfront costs, especially if you have health insurance.
Does urgent care bill you later without insurance?
In general, urgent care centers do not bill patients later for their services. They typically require payment at the time of the visit.