What to know about urgent care and its costs, according to doctors

If you need fast but non-emergency medical care, an urgent care clinic can be a great option. But what do they treat and how much does it cost?

"Urgent care clinics are equipped to handle non-life-threatening illnesses, injuries and conditions. When you need quick care, but your condition is not an emergency," says Dr. Robert Biernbaum, chief medical officer at WellNow Urgent Care ,.

According to Biernbaum, this could include:

• Minor injuries like cuts, burns and sprains

• Common illnesses like colds, the flu and strep throat

• Infections including sinus, ear and urinary tract infections, pink eye and sexually transmitted infections

• Skin conditions, including rashes and insect bites

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

1 / 10

See the 'risky foods' linked to US recalls and illness outbreaks

Consumer Reports , the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, released its annual risky food report in April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAY broke it down further on a what-you-need-to-know basis.

"Urgent care clinics have extended hours to operate outside of when most primary care doctors are available, so you can see a medical provider quickly, and no appointment is necessary for most facilities," he added.

Here's what to know about pricing.

Heads up: Here's the difference between a sore throat and strep

How much is urgent care with insurance?

Although it varies, typically a visit to urgent care is more expensive than a primary care visit, says Dr. Ritu Saluja-Sharma, a board certified Emergency Medicine Physician and founder of health program Head Heart Hands .

"Depending on your insurance and the services you get, there may be a co-pay to see your primary care doctor, and that may be $20 or $50 or $100 or something like that depending on your insurance," she explained. For urgent care, "and often it's written on your insurance card, the co-pay is typically a little bit higher, so it may be something like $80 or $200 for the visit."

If additional tests are done – for example, X-rays or blood tests – "the bill may be even higher," Saluja-Sharma adds.

Recovering from a sprained ankle? Here's how long it'll take to heal.

Do you have to pay to be seen at urgent care?

Urgent care visits typically require insurance co-pays or out-of-pocket costs; these costs are generally higher than regular doctor visits but generally lower than the ER.

"While it may be tempting to head straight for the ER when experiencing a medical problem, it's important to be aware that if you visit the ER when emergency care is not needed, you could end up paying high out-of-pocket costs," Biernbaum says.

"The cost of a visit to an urgent care clinic will generally be significantly lower than a visit to the ER," he adds. "Typically you'll only have one charge at an urgent care center versus two charges at an emergency room, one for the emergency room itself and one for the physician."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much does urgent care cost? Doctors break down what to know.