Urgent care has become a lifeline for people seeking medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their convenience and positioning as an alternative to the emergency room. The cost of urgent care is lower than that of an ER, and they accept patients who don’t have insurance, but can demonstrate their ability to pay at the time of service. In turn, you get affordable health care in less time than going to the ER and still get the right type of treatment.

The actual cost of an urgent care visit without insurance depends on the provider, but you can expect to pay as little as $100 for comprehensive medical services provided by a physician. According to the Urgent Care Association, there are over 9,000 urgent care clinics in the U.S. providing healthcare to about 89 million patients every year. They provide healthcare similar to that of a primary care physician’s (PCP) office, and are an alternative to the PCP office after business hours, or when there’s no existing relationship with a primary care physician.

What is urgent care?

There are more than 14,714 urgent care clinics in the U.S. in 2024.

Urgent care, also known as a walk-in clinic, provides medical care to patients who are in need of a physician, but don’t have a serious issue that requires the emergency room. It also takes care of patients who would otherwise go to the ER for medical care and wait hours to see a doctor and get billed at ER rates.

An urgent care clinic is set up to help people with a variety of issues including illnesses, vaccinations, physicals, and minor injuries. They’re equipped with diagnostic equipment that’s similar to that of an ER, and are staffed by nurses, doctors and nurse practitioners. The kind of care provided at an urgent care clinic is the same as what you would receive in a hospital or clinic.

You can walk into an urgent care clinic and see a physician within a short time of your arrival. Appointments aren’t necessary, and you’ll see a medical expert as soon as possible. Many urgent care clinics have extended hours or are open 24/7/365.

When should I go to urgent care?

A general rule of thumb for making the decision to go to urgent care is if you feel a need for medical care, but your physician’s office is closed. Going to an urgent care clinic gives you access to a physician who can examine your issue, provide a diagnosis, and prescribe medication to help you find relief. They can also make the decision to send you to the ER if your symptoms are serious enough.

Examples of medical conditions that suit urgent care

Some other reasons why you should go to the urgent care clinic instead of the ER include:

• Moderate symptoms of illness
• Small wounds that may need stitches
• Minor physical injuries

Normally, most of these issues are manageable with over-the-counter medication and rest. Sometimes, however, the symptoms don’t go away no matter what you try, and you need medical intervention. The urgent care clinic helps you with your semi-emergent need for care at a lower cost with the same type of medical standards as the ER or your doctor’s office.

How much does a visit to urgent care cost?

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. The use of medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment and prescription medications are extra costs that you’ll have to pay for as well. However, these costs are much lower than that of the ER, and you’ll find that the cost of urgent care without insurance is very reasonable.

Average costs of common urgent care services

When you visit urgent care, the costs can vary widely depending on the type of treatment you need. Below is a list of some common services received at urgent care centers along with their average costs.

Service/Treatment	Average Cost
Basic Visit	$100 – $150
Strep Throat Testing	$30 – $50
X-rays	$100 – $250
Casting for Broken Bones	$250 – $300
IV Fluids	$100 – $250
Flu Shots	$20 – $30
Physical Exams	$50 – $100
Allergy Injections	$15 – $25 per injection
Asthma Treatment	$50 – $100
UTI Testing and Treatment	$90 – $200

These prices are estimates and can vary based on the location and specific urgent care facility. It’s always best to inquire directly with the provider for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing.

Additionally, many insurance plans cover urgent care visits, which can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs depending on your coverage details.

Urgent care vs. emergency room

Non-life-threatening issues can cost up to 5 times more at the ER.

Emergency rooms and urgent care clinics both serve the same purpose in that they take care of people who are in need of immediate care when a physician’s office is closed. Someone who has been in a catastrophic accident or serious illness that requires immediate medical intervention is best served by the ER. In contrast, someone who has minor injuries and doesn’t need immediate care is best served by an urgent care clinic. An ER is open around the clock, seven days a week all year-round, but urgent clinics frequently have similar hours.

Urgent care clinics are also less expensive than an ER. The average cost of a visit to the ER varies by treatment but can be around $2,200, with the wait time being 2 hours compared to the average 30 minute wait at urgent care clinics. Non-life-threatening issues can cost up to 5 times more at the ER than at urgent care clinics. For example, the cost to treat a sinus infection at an ER can cost $617 compared to $112 at an urgent care clinic. The ER cost is frequently reduced through insurance while the urgent care cost tends to be the same for cash or insurance.

Does my insurance cover urgent care visits?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all ACA-compliant health insurance plans to cover emergency services, but some insurers do not classify urgent care in the same benefit class as emergency care. Most health insurance plans cover urgent care visits, however. Often health plans make the following common distinctions between urgent care visits and emergency room visits.

• A plan may define an urgent care need as a medical condition that is not potentially life-threatening and doesn’t require immediate medical attention but still requires care within 24 hours.
• A plan may apply different (and often lower) copayment to urgent care center visits than the plan applies to emergency room visits. For example, you may have to pay the same or similar copay for an urgent care center visit as you pay for a doctor visit.
• To receive urgent care benefits, you may need to choose an urgent care center that participates in your health insurance plan if you are in a health maintenance organization (HMO), and you want urgent care where you live. You can check with the insurer or the urgent care center before going to the urgent care center.

When you visit an urgent care center, you can expect to pay a copayment. One health plan may pay its share of the urgent care center visit but only if you have met the plan’s annual deductible. If you aren’t sure if your health insurance plan covers urgent care visits, or what your cost-share is, review your plan’s summary of benefits.

On eHealth.com you can get a quote or compare plan benefits online. Compare health insurance plans in your area to find one that meets your coverage needs to make sure you’re covered when you need it.

How much does an urgent care visit cost if I don’t have health insurance?

An urgent care center’s services are available if you don’t have health insurance as well. However, without insurance, you will be responsible for the entire cost of urgent care services, usually at the time of service. Also, any medications prescribed to treat your condition will be a separate out-of-pocket cost.

There are some things you can try to reduce or defray upfront, out-of-pocket costs for urgent care services.

• Call urgent care centers near your home in advance of a visit and compare costs
• Explain your circumstances to the urgent care center administrative staff or healthcare provider. You may be able to negotiate your urgent care cost if you are without insurance (through a low interest payment plan or income-based discount on services for example).
• Consider alternatives to ACA-compliant health insurance. If you are temporarily without health insurance and feel you simply can’t afford a comprehensive health plan right now, you might find a short term health insurance or medical indemnity plan fits your immediate needs. Medical indemnity plans provide set benefits for common healthcare services such as urgent care center visits. Short term health insurance plans, on the other hand, provide insurance coverage for a certain period of time, if you don’t want to commit to an ACA-compliant plan.

How Much Does an Urgent Care Visit Cost?: FAQs

Does urgent care do COVID testing?

Yes, urgent care does COVID testing as a general rule. You can walk into an urgent care clinic and ask to be tested for COVID-19.

Does urgent care do STD testing?

Yes, urgent care does STD testing. Many people prefer the anonymity of going to an urgent care clinic for testing.

Does urgent care bill you later?‘

It depends. You can expect to pay up front for urgent care, but you may also receive a bill for services at a later date.

Find the right plan for you with eHealth

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