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Key Points
- Urgent care centers offer a variety of services including influenza immunizations and treatment, fever treatment, food sickness treatment, cold treatment, and physicals. Some centers may also offer additional services such as MRIs, X-rays, and immunizations for international travel.
- The cost of urgent care varies by location and additional services such as X-rays, immunizations, and medication will cost extra. Uninsured patients may ask for generic medications to reduce costs and some centers may offer discounts or reduced fees.
- Most insurance providers cover urgent care, but it's important to check if a specific location accepts your insurance before receiving service. Insured patients must pay the full urgent care co-pay at the time of service, and uninsured patients must pay in full.
- Choosing an urgent care center requires understanding what services they offer and which ones they don't. It's important to research and prepare before needing medical care.
Before you and your family choose urgent care for your next medical treatment, you should consider if it is right for you. Here are the basic facts about urgent care that you should know.
Urgent Care Services
The services offered at each urgent care center might vary. While every center is equipped to handle routine influenza immunizations and fever, not everyone is prepared to deal with broken bones. Here are the services you can count on from any urgent care location:
- Influenza immunization (flu shot)
- Influenza (flu) treatment
- Fever treatment
- Food sickness
- Cold treatment
- Annual physicals and school physical
By calling an urgent care center or checking its website you can find out if it offers these additional services:
- MRIs
- X-rays
- Immunizations for international travel
Urgent Care Pricing
Urgent care centers set prices by location, so one might offer appointments for $70 while another just a block away offers a visit for $170. On average, a walk-in appointment will cost $71-125. However, additional services such as x-rays, immunizations, and medication cost extra.
Uninsured patients may ask doctors for generic medications, which will greatly reduce their cost. Furthermore, if an uninsured patient lets the medical staff know about his or her situation, they might be able to offer a discount or reduced fee.
Insurance and Urgent Care
Most insurance providers cover urgent care. However, there might be a location that does not accept your specific insurance. It is always best to ask before you receive service, so that there is no surprise at the end of the visit. Be prepared with your insurance card and the amount of your co-payment. Insured patients must pay the full urgent care co-pay at time of service, and uninsured patients must pay in full.
Choosing urgent care centers requires an understanding of what services they offer, and which services are unavailable. Hopefully, with the information found in this article, you will be prepared to make your choice the next time you and your family need medical care.
Frequently asked questions
What services can I expect from any urgent care center?
Most urgent care centers are equipped to handle routine influenza immunizations, fever treatment, influenza treatment, food sickness, cold treatment, and annual and school physicals.Can all urgent care centers handle severe cases like broken bones?
No, not all urgent care centers are equipped to handle severe cases like broken bones. It's best to check with the specific center for their offered services.How can I find out if an urgent care center offers additional services like MRIs, X-rays, and immunizations for international travel?
You can find out if an urgent care center offers additional services by calling the center directly or checking its website.How much does a walk-in appointment at an urgent care center typically cost?
On average, a walk-in appointment at an urgent care center will cost between $71-125. However, additional services such as x-rays, immunizations, and medication will cost extra.What options are available for uninsured patients at urgent care centers?
Uninsured patients may ask doctors for generic medications to reduce their cost. In addition, if an uninsured patient informs the medical staff about their situation, they might be able to offer a discount or reduced fee.Do most insurance providers cover urgent care?
Yes, most insurance providers cover urgent care. However, there might be a location that does not accept your specific insurance. It's always best to ask before you receive service.What should I have prepared if I am insured and visiting an urgent care center?
Insured patients should be prepared with their insurance card and the amount of their co-payment. They must pay the full urgent care co-pay at the time of service.What should I consider when choosing an urgent care center?
When choosing an urgent care center, you should consider what services they offer, their pricing, whether they accept your insurance, and what services are unavailable.
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