Urgent Care Blog
Tips, advice, news—your resource to stay healthy and safe while improving your experience at urgent care and walk-in clinics when you need them.
It’s no secret that more and more Americans are taking on health plans with outrageously high deductibles or dropping their hea... More
If you live in the United States and eat romaine lettuce, you have probably heard about the 2018 E. coli outbreak. To date, 197... More
A healthy twist on your typical summer travel guide, here are AARP's top US vacation destinations coupled with location-specifi... More
Recent Urgent Care Articles
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9 Running Injuries That Can Be Treated at Urgent Care
Whether you’re an ultra marathon runner, participate in the occasional 5k, or are a hopeful beginner, running injuries happen. Sustaining a running injury can be both scary and frustrating. Knowing which inj... More
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10 Ways to Stay Safe While Hiking and Camping - 2018 Guide
Now that the weather is warm across the United States, people are heading outdoors to enjoy summer activities such as hiking and camping. While these pastimes can provide an incredible amount of fun, exci... More
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2018 Outdoor Air Quality Guide
When was the last time you thought about the quality of air in your city? Perhaps it’s not something you’ve ever thought of. That is true for many people. However, air quality is critically important to t... More
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Afraid of Germs? Use These Tips to Survive the Cold & Flu Season
While some people seem to be able to go through life without ever getting sick, the majority of us aren't that lucky. Even with yearly flu shots, warm clothing, and over-the-top preventive measures lik... More
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Flu Vaccinations Aren’t The Only Way To Prevent The Flu
At the start of Autumn, you’ll likely see signs advertising flu shots before piles of leaves or seasonal wreaths. “Get Your Flu Shot Here!” “Walk-Ins Welcome!” “Flu Shot Available – Stop By The Pharmacy!”... More
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11 Things You Need to Know About Mosquitoes
Some folks can sit outside for hours in the summer evenings without a nibble, while their companions sit a few feet away and get gnawed to ribbons. Mosquitos - particularly mosquito bites - are odd and ann... More
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4 Signs You Aren't Beating the Summer Heat
Beating the summer heat is about more than simply staying cool and comfortable. As the temperatures increase and the humidity grows thicker, heat-related illnesses occur quickly. Most are easily avoided wi... More
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4 Ways to Banish BBQ-Related Food Poisoning
Summertime is BBQ time! It's a time to dust off our grills and buy the meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables we love and invite the gang over for tasty, but tempting meals. Barbecuing also means being ca... More
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Fun in the Sun: Top 5 Summer Safety Risks for Kids
Every year when summer arrives children sprint to trampolines, swimming pools, and nearby jungle gyms for reprieve from long school years. Sadly, many summer activities are leading causes of accidents, inj... More
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7 Surprising Things You're Doing to Help Yourself Get the Flu
Flu season is upon us and generally lasts from October through March. Beyond being smart and getting the annual flu shot from an urgent care location, there are some things you may be doing to invite the flu... More
Urgent Care Guide
Services & Pricing
Urgent care centers, which are part of the walk-in clinic healthcare category, are a convenient resource for consumers needing treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. Services that you would normally receive at your primary care office are usually available at an urgent care including annual and school physicals, flu shots and immunizations, treatment for illnesses including colds, flu stomach pains, sinus and ear infections and more. You can also be seen for injuries such as burns, bites, sprains and breaks - things that you might first thing to go to the emergency room vs urgent care, but you’ll have a shorter wait and smaller bill at the urgent care. As for cost, without insurance, you should expect between $100-140 for your visit, plus the cost of any labs, tests or images. With insurance, urgent care will be similar to seeing a specialist with applicable co-pay.
Insurance & Payments
Nearly all urgent care centers take commercial insurance and many (if not most) will take medicare. As such if you have insurance coverage, you can expect the financial experience to be similar to visiting a specialist where you have a co-pay, usually $35-50, due at the time of the visit. Any additional lab work, x-rays or other tests performed will be billed against your insurance first and any supplemental balance due will be invoiced to you after the fact. Without insurance, you’ll pay a visit fee between $100-140 at the time of your visit. This is typically 25-50% more than your primary care provider, but usually the convenience is well worth the additional cost. If you are interested in a telehealth or video visit, your cost could be as much as 50% less than an urgent care, you could be diagnosed and prescribed medication and you’ll never have to leave your home.
Hours & Wait Times
Every urgent care center - even those part of the same group or brand - may have different hours. While they are meant to be conveniently accessible during times when your primary care provider is not, that’s subjective and highly variable. A traditional formula, however, is that an urgent care is open 6 to 7 days a week usually between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm. That could shift to nearly any 8-12 hour period between 7 am and 10 pm. You’ll even find some clinics open 24 hours a day, similar to an emergency room. As for wait time, most patients report waiting between 15-45 minutes on average, but that can certainly vary, as well. It’s usually best to find an urgent care near you to either confirm the hours online, or call the clinic directly to verify. Or, you can book a same day doctor appointment online with Solv.