How much is urgent care without insurance?
It’s a sad fact that one in two Americans don’t see a doctor when they’re sick, because they’re worried about high medical bills. But you might need immediate medical treatment — in which case, not getting help isn’t an option.
If you don’t have healthcare insurance, you’ll have to pay for your and your family’s medical treatment out of your own pocket. But you may be concerned about how much this will cost.
Self-pay rates are set by urgent care centers for patients who don’t have insurance, but you don’t always find out what these are until you’re actually at the clinic. Many people are worried about the cost of surprise medical bills, which is why clear and simple information about self-pay prices is so important.
In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about urgent care costs, so you can focus on getting better, rather than how much your treatment is going to be and how you’re going to pay for it.
Table of Contents
How much is an urgent care without insurance?
Without insurance, urgent care can cost anything from $2 to more than $2,000, depending on the type of treatment you need and where your urgent care center is located. However, to give you an idea, the average urgent care visit costs between $100 and $200 for patients without insurance.
Healthcare prices shouldn’t be a secret, which is why there are resources out there that aim to make medical costs as transparent as possible. This means you can receive the treatment you need without worrying about surprise medical bills.
Continue reading to find out more about paying for an urgent care without insurance.
Do urgent care centers charge less than emergency rooms?
Urgent care centers charge less than emergency rooms because there are fewer overheads. While hospitals have costs like highly sophisticated equipment and doctors and nurses who specialize in trauma and emergency care, urgent care centers and doctors’ offices don’t.
Here’s how emergency room visits compare to urgent care centers:
| Condition | Approx. cost: Urgent care center | Approx. cost: Emergency room |
| Acute bronchitis | $130 | $595 |
| Allergies | $100 | $345 |
| Chest x-ray | $270 | $365 |
| Earache | $110 | $400 |
| Extremity x-ray | $250 | $255 |
| In-office visit | $150 | $225 |
| Pink eye | $100 | $370 |
| Sinusitis | $110 | $620 |
| Sore throat | $95 | $525 |
| Stitches | $275 | $320 |
| Strep throat | $110 | $530 |
| Upper respiratory infection | $110 | $485 |
| Urinary tract infection | $110 | $665 |
Bear in mind that if you don’t have health insurance and you can’t afford treatment at an urgent care center, they could turn you away. Whereas you’ll always be treated at a hospital emergency room, whether you have insurance or not — but you’ll also be charged whether you can afford it or not.
When to visit an urgent care center
If your condition isn’t life-threatening but needs immediate treatment, you should head to an urgent care center.
Here are some reasons why a patient might need to visit an urgent care center:
- Abdominal pain
- Animal or insect bite
- Breathing discomfort, for example, moderate asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cuts and bleeding that may require stitches
- Ear infection
- Fever, flu, or cold symptoms
- Minor back pain
- Seasonal allergies
- Sprains and broken bones
- Urinary tract infection
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- X-rays and lab tests
When to visit an emergency room
If your condition could permanently impair or endanger your life, it’s an emergency and you should head to an emergency room. If you’re unsure of how severe your ailments or symptoms are, it’s always best to go to an emergency room to be on the safe side.
A patient may need to visit an emergency room if they’re experiencing any of the following:
- Allergic reactions
- High fevers or rash, especially if the patient is a child
- Intestinal bleeding
- Paralysis
- Poisoning
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe chest pain
- Severe head or eye injuries
- Unconsciousness
- Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
What factors influence urgent care costs?
As stated above, the cost of urgent care depends on what you’re being treated for and the location of your urgent care center.
The cost can also vary according to each urgent care center’s office visit cost. This is a baseline fee that patients have to pay and typically costs between $100 and $200.
How can I reduce my urgent care costs?
If you’re worried about urgent care costs, you might find it reassuring to know that there are some things you can do to try to reduce them:
- Do some research on the cheapest urgent care centers in your area before you even need to visit one
- Keep an eye out for clinics that offer discounts for patients without health insurance
- Negotiate your bill by asking if you can pay through a low or no-interest payment plan or get an income-based discount on services
- If you can’t afford a comprehensive health plan, consider alternatives to Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant health insurance, such as medical indemnity plans and short-term health insurance
Are there any other ways to pay my medical bills?
In addition to taking out insurance or paying out of your own pocket, there are some other ways to cover the cost of your medical bills:
Charities
Non-profit organizations like the HealthWell Foundation help underinsured people with chronic or life-changing diseases by allocating grants, paying for prescriptions, and covering the cost of future health insurance premiums.
Similarly, the Modest Needs charity provides emergency grants to people who are struggling with medical debt.
Government grants
The US government won’t usually offer financial assistance for past medical bills, however, programs like Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are an option for helping to cover your current healthcare costs.
Crowdfunding
If you don’t mind sharing your story with your friends, family, and the wider community, fundraising can be a good way to get help with your medical bills.
Government grants can take a while to come through, but you can receive funds into your bank account immediately through fundraising online.
Summary
If you don’t have healthcare insurance, you have to pay for your medical treatment out of your own pocket.
Self-pay rates are set by urgent care centers for patients who don’t have insurance, but you don’t always find out what these are until you’re actually at the clinic.
Without insurance, urgent healthcare can cost anything from $2 to more than $2,000, depending on the type of treatment you need and where your urgent care center is located. However, to give you an idea, the average urgent care visit costs between $100 and $200 for patients without insurance.
Treatment at an urgent care center costs less than an emergency room visit because there are fewer overheads. Bear in mind that if you don’t have health insurance and you can’t afford treatment at an urgent care center, they could turn you away, whereas, you’ll always be treated at an emergency room, whether you have insurance or not. However, you’ll also be charged, whether you can afford it or not.
If your condition isn’t life-threatening but needs immediate treatment, you should head to an urgent care center. If your condition could permanently impair or endanger your life, it’s an emergency and you should head to an emergency room.
As well as what you’re being treated for and the location of your urgent care center, the cost of urgent care also depends on the clinic’s office visit cost.
You can try to reduce your urgent care costs by researching the cheapest urgent care centers in your area, keeping an eye out for clinics that offer discounts for patients without health insurance, negotiating your bill, and considering alternatives to ACA-compliant health insurance.
If you’re struggling to pay your medical bill, you can get help from charities or the government or you could start a fundraiser yourself.
