Is Urgent Care Expensive?

Quick Answer:

No, urgent care is significantly cheaper than emergency rooms. Basic visits cost $100-$250 without insurance or $25-$75 copay with insurance. ERs charge $1,000-$3,000+ for similar services.

Urgent Care Costs Compared

Urgent care is designed to be an affordable alternative to emergency rooms for non-life-threatening conditions.

Cost Comparison

ServiceUrgent CareEmergency Room
Basic visit$100-$250$500-$1,500
Visit + X-ray$200-$400$1,000-$2,500
Stitches$200-$500$800-$2,000
Lab work$50-$200$200-$1,000

With Insurance

Most insurance plans have lower copays for urgent care than ER visits:

  • Urgent care copay: $25-$75
  • ER copay: $150-$500

Ways to Save Money

  • Ask about self-pay discounts (10-40% off)
  • Use in-network urgent care centers
  • Request itemized estimates before treatment
  • Ask about payment plans

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