Retail & Walk-In Healthcare: Comparing Costs
In order to help you identify the cost and benefit of using a retail health center or walk-in clinic such as RediHealth, TakeCare, or MinuteClinic, the table below provides a comparison. Listed is a common ailment or service, and then the cost to seek the care in three different settings: Retail, Doctor's Office, Urgent Care, and Emergency Room.
For sake of comparison, the sources of this table are MinuteClinic's nationwide price list, and a 2005 Minnesota study on common health care costs, adjusted for likely medical price inflation.
- Ear Ache: $59 at a retail provider, $95 in doctor's office, $135 at urgent care, $184 in emergency room
- Sore Throat: $74 at a retail provider, $133 in a doctor's office, $495 in an emergency room
- Cold / Bronchitis: $59 at a retail provider, $97 in a doctor's office, $220 in an emergency room
- Mono Test: $69 at a retail provider, $185 in a doctor's office
you can see, there is a clear cost-saving from going to retail health locations for common services. However, a part of being a wise consumer of healthcare, consider the following:
- If you think you'll want to see your doctor anyway for the ailment or service, simply see your doctor instead of paying for two services (retail and doctor's office)
- Keep in mind that many retail health locations are not networked to your physician or clinic - the service performed will never be part of your medical record unless you remember to tell your physician during your next visit.
- Some insurers consider retail health "out of network", meaning you may be better off paying a $20 copay at your doctor's office than the $59 for an ear ache exam at MinuteClinic.
- Be sure to compare the exact services provided for more complex care. For example, MinuteClinic offers a low-cost diabetes screening, but if you are a chronic diabetes patient, your doctor may prefer that you have a more thorough battery of tests to manage the disease.