How much does urgent care cost without health insurance?
Medical costs can be frightening, but a person's overall health is worth getting checked out at urgent care if the need arises. How much urgent care will cost depends on what type of medical service you require.
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Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active life and health insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
UPDATED: Jan 28, 2024
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UPDATED: Jan 28, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance providers please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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The cost of urgent care visits for patients without insurance varies from place to place and is dependent on what kind of treatment or services you require. However, if you have a non-fatal injury or illness, the urgent care clinics or walk-in clinics costs are a much cheaper alternative than going to the emergency room.
If you are not in immediate danger of death, a trip to the urgent care clinic will not just be cheaper, it will also probably be a much quicker one. However, having some form of health insurance coverage is still your best option.
How much does an urgent care visit cost without insurance?
How much you pay at an urgent care facility will depend on the reason for your visit and what kind of medical treatment you need. Even though it’s cheaper, if you’re in serious condition and have multiple reasons to take a trip to urgent care, you may still want to know what your costs will look like first.
The average cost for standard medical issues like sinusitis, an ear infection, or a urinary tract infection is around $100. However, this will vary based on a variety of factors, including where you live. If you’re living in a city where everything is expensive, like New York City or Los Angeles, you can expect prices will be higher at urgent care centres.
Regardless of what you pay to go to an urgent care centre, it will almost certainly be less expensive than an emergency room visit as an uninsured patient.
Read more: Top Small Emergency Rooms That Accept Medicare
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How can I afford an emergency room or urgent care visit without insurance?
Emergency rooms have become incredibly overcrowded, primarily because of people going for reasons that are definitely not emergencies. Car accidents, heart attacks, falling down or upstairs, being bitten by a rabid dog—those are definitely emergencies.
If you are visiting for a sore throat, flu symptoms, or another non-life threatening illness, you should expect your urgent care costs to be somewhere between $50 and $100. If you need tests or X-rays, that will cost you a bit more.
If you are worried about how much is urgent care without insurance for a one time visit, one option is to go to a clinic with cash. Sometimes, if you can pay fees upfront, you can get a discount on your bill. They are often happy to do this because they know you will be one less patient they could potentially have to hunt down for payment.
Urgent care medical bills without insurance can be a burden on patients and thus some clinics and doctor’s offices alike occasionally have free samples of medications, but you may very well have to pay for your own prescriptions. However, some urgent care facilities—particularly those that are specifically focused on the uninsured – may have their own pharmacies where you can purchase some medications at good discounts.
If you need medical care and you can’t afford to pay the entire cost up-front, some urgent care centres will offer a payment plan. Make sure to ask about this if you need to, rather than forego testing or medical attention that you may desperately need.
Read more: What shows up on a health insurance bill?
What are my urgent care options?
So how much does urgent care cost without insurance? Know that there are always many different local options for quality health care even if you do not have health insurance. There are often free community clinics that provide urgent care with nor insurance as well as primary, general care.
If you think you won’t be eligible for health care because you make too much money to get aid and too little to pay for quality health care, think again. Most of these clinics offer affordable care. They charge based on sliding scales, so that people pay what they are able to afford to get the care they need.
Your local Planned Parenthood, for example, would be a far better place to go if you were a female with a UTI than the emergency room. You will be seen sooner, have a quicker appointment, and will most likely be charged based on what you can pay. They may ask for a pay stub, so prepare for that situation just in case.
While urgent care clinics are predominately used for occasional care for a specific problem, some people are sometimes able to make their urgent care clinic their regular doctor. However, it’s not recommended that you go to an urgent care centre for preventive care. The level of care is not the same, and doctors may rotate in and out of these clinics more often.
When should I choose an emergency room over urgent care?
The main thing to remember is that it is always going to be in your best interest to use emergency rooms for true emergencies only, or for serious problems that cannot wait until more appropriate healthcare opens in the morning. The overcrowding and long waits at emergency rooms have become a problem throughout the country. For example, if you think you may have a respiratory infection because you’re having trouble breathing, you can go to urgent care. If you’re having trouble breathing because you’re going into anaphylactic shock, that’s an emergency.
If you think you may be coming down with something serious and are afraid of what it may cost to go to the emergency room, go to the urgent care clinic as soon as you can. The cost of urgent care without insurance will be much cheaper and also likely quicker. Because most people who use the emergency room for illnesses usually wait until the illness has really progressed, they are far sicker and require more care that is more expensive.
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Case Studies: Cost of Urgent Care Without Health Insurance
Case Study 1: John’s Minor Injury
John, a 28-year-old freelance writer, recently sprained his ankle while playing basketball. Since he didn’t have health insurance, he decided to visit an urgent care clinic for treatment. The clinic charged him a flat fee of $150 for the examination, X-rays, and a splint to immobilize his ankle. The total cost of John’s urgent care visit amounted to $150.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Persistent Cough
Sarah, a 35-year-old retail worker, developed a persistent cough accompanied by a fever. Concerned about her symptoms, she visited an urgent care facility near her home. Without health insurance, Sarah had to pay a base fee of $100 for the consultation, plus an additional $50 for a strep test and $40 for a chest X-ray. In total, her urgent care visit cost $190.
Case Study 3: Mark’s Flu Symptoms
Mark, a 42-year-old construction worker, experienced severe flu-like symptoms and decided to seek medical attention at an urgent care center. Since Mark was uninsured, he paid $125 for the consultation and an additional $60 for a rapid influenza test. The total cost of Mark’s urgent care visit amounted to $185.
Case Study 4: Lisa’s Allergic Reaction
Lisa, a 19-year-old college student, had an allergic reaction to a bee sting and rushed to an urgent care clinic for immediate treatment. Without health insurance, she was charged $175 for the examination, medications, and an epinephrine injection to counter the allergic reaction. Lisa’s total urgent care expenses came to $175.
Case Study 5: David’s Minor Burn
David, a 32-year-old chef, accidentally burned his hand while cooking and sought medical attention at an urgent care facility. Without health insurance, he paid $125 for the consultation, wound care, and a prescription for topical ointment. David’s total cost for the urgent care visit was $125.
What’s the bottom line?
If you are considering urgent care because you don’t believe that you can afford health insurance, you owe it to your self to look into what you can afford. There are many kinds of affordable health care options, and it does not have to be impossible for you to apply for a health insurance policy that fits within your budget.
You also have to consider your personal health. If you’re having a serious medical emergency, such as an allergic reaction, go to the emergency room. Time is of the essence in those situations. Should your medical condition be a little less severe, consider going to urgent care instead, to cut back on overcrowding in the ER.
It’s also worth checking out the healthcare.gov website to see if you can get a subsidized insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Many low-income people qualify. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t wait until you need emergency care before going to the doctor. Take proper care of yourself no matter the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is urgent care?
Urgent care refers to medical facilities that provide immediate, non-emergency medical care for conditions that require prompt attention but are not life-threatening.
How much does urgent care typically cost without health insurance?
The cost of urgent care without health insurance can vary depending on various factors, including the location, specific services required, and the urgency of the condition. On average, a basic visit to an urgent care center can range from $100 to $250.
Are there additional costs associated with urgent care visits?
Yes, there may be additional costs beyond the basic visit fee. These can include charges for laboratory tests, X-rays, prescription medications, or any specialized treatments or procedures required during your visit. These additional costs can vary significantly depending on the specific services provided.
Are there any discounts or payment options available for urgent care services without insurance?
Some urgent care centers may offer discounts or reduced fees for uninsured individuals, particularly if they pay in cash at the time of service. It is advisable to inquire about any available discounts or payment options beforehand.
Can urgent care centers provide an estimate of costs before treatment?
Yes, many urgent care centers can provide an estimate of costs for specific services or treatments upon request. It is recommended to contact the urgent care center directly and provide them with details about your condition to obtain a more accurate estimate of costs.
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Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active life and health insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.