re: Do urgent care visits cost significantly more than appointments with a PCP dr?

Went to Lake After Hours today.

Got temp, BP, O2, EKG, and steroid shot for $152 with a "silver" plan BC/BS. Two Rx for $40.

In and out in 40 minutes. WELL worth it. Had I gotten fit in at my PCP it would have taken hours.

I still got to put in half a day at work.

Rustled

Brought my daughter to an urgent care for the flu. $100 upfront then got billed later for an additional $20. We have a HDHP through Blue Cross.

Yup! It's actually super nice!

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I have a membership at an urgent care that has locations all over my city. $30 a month takes care of any visits, you can wait from home and they text you when your room is open and it even includes x-rays and labs.

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PCPs won't exist in the future. This is a way better option

I'm actually looking at putting an on site clinic at our company and telemedicine for outside of office hours.

After hours, out of network generally do.

Doctors need to start posting their prices.

I would think PCP is cheaper.Also once you're a patient of theirs',if all you need is a prescription,call their office and they may call it in for you.

Especially if you're sick or contagious.

A good Doctor is worth their weight in salt.

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They considered it an emergency room.

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Its how they bill (by location code) and urgent care centers have a different place of service than an ER. You likely have appeal rights with your insurance company and if the place id advertised as a true urgent care but billing ER rates, thats illegal.

Now, stand alone ERs (like what is now popping up with ochsner and EJ) are different and under alot of scrutiny for it. They are set to bill as an ER but don't function much different than an urgent care as they are just transferring patients to the ER.

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OP< the cost of an urgent care visit will definitely be higher than your PCP as the location from which they bill has higher reimbursement rates. The cost of the visit for each individual will be determined by what they do to you while you are there.

For example, a rapid flu test with a script for thereflu will cost much less than someone who needs things like x-rays, soft casts, stitches, etc. It all depends on what is done for the visit.

Pick a PCP, develop a relationship with them so that you can call during normal business hours and ask them to work you into their schedule (for existing patients, any clinic worth a shite can do this). Picking a PCP with NPs or PAs in the office helps immensely with this access. If you want to keep your costs low, pick a clinic with good access.

If you call the clinic at 7 pm and it just goes to an answer machine = bad access
if you call the clinic at 7m and someone that works there is on call (even if just to answer questions and give advice) = good access

Your PCP should be your first outlet for care, urgent cares are for those urgent situations that arise and something needs attention) and ERs are for true emergency situations.

Yeah, if it's advertised as an ER, they can bill ER rates.