Urgent Care and Insurance: What You Should Know About Rapid Tests
Urgent Care and Insurance: What You Should Know About Rapid Tests
Visiting urgent care centers in the U.S. can sometimes lead to unexpected bills—especially when it comes to COVID-19 rapid tests. Recently, I experienced this firsthand. After testing positive for COVID, I went to a nearby urgent care for a rapid test, only to discover that my insurance didn’t fully cover the visit.
What Happens During a Rapid Test at Urgent Care?
At urgent care, the rapid test process was simple and quick. I wasn’t seen by a doctor, but instead by a nurse. The steps were:
- Measuring blood oxygen levels
- Performing a nasal swab test
- Leaving within about 10 minutes
Later, I received the results by email within a few hours. The process itself was smooth—but the cost was not.
The Insurance Surprise: Out of Network Charges
A few days later, I logged into my insurance account and noticed a pending charge from the urgent care. Unfortunately, that urgent care center was out of network for my insurance.
The bill? $300 per person for a rapid test. Since both my husband and I got tested, the total came to $600. Even with partial coverage, we still had to pay $223 each. And this wasn’t even for a PCR test—it was just the rapid version.
Is Urgent Care Expensive?
Urgent care clinics like CityMD or ClearMD are convenient when you’re sick, but they aren’t always cheap. Before visiting, it’s important to:
- Check if the urgent care is in-network for your insurance
- Ask about expected costs for tests or visits
- Compare urgent care providers in your area
With so many urgent care companies opening, prices and insurance coverage vary widely.
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room Costs
Although urgent care isn’t cheap, it’s still far more affordable than calling an ambulance or going to the emergency room. For non-life-threatening issues, urgent care is the smarter choice. But you should always verify insurance coverage beforehand.
Final Thoughts: Be Careful with Rapid Test Costs
In my case, urgent care ended up being much more expensive than I expected. The takeaway?
Always check whether your urgent care is covered by insurance before you go.
Avoid COVID infection if possible.
Keep a reliable home test kit available to reduce unnecessary urgent care visits.
