Urgent care clinics and emergency rooms offer many of the same services. But choosing an urgent care clinic can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars – and many hours of time.
Read More: Navigating Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: When to Choose Integrity Urgent Care
What is the average cost and wait time of an ER visit?
In the United States, the average cost for an emergency room visit is around $2,600 without insurance, according to UnitedHealthcare. What you pay can exceed this amount since the actual price you pay out of pocket depends on several factors, including where you live, time of day (night visits are more expensive due to staffing costs), and the diagnostic tests and treatments you receive.
If you have insurance, data from the US Department of Health shows that the nationwide co-pay average for ER services after meeting your deductible is $412.
The cost of care isn’t the only consideration – time is important, too. The average emergency room wait time is .