Telehealth vs Urgent Care: Cost Comparison 2025
Telehealth vs Urgent Care: Cost Comparison 2025
Deciding between telehealth and urgent care? Here's a complete cost comparison to help you save money while getting the care you need.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Telehealth | Urgent Care | |--------|-----------|-------------| | Cost (no insurance) | $49-$99 | $150-$300 | | Cost (with insurance) | $0-$50 copay | $50-$100 copay | | Wait time | 5-15 minutes | 30-120 minutes | | Convenience | From home | Must travel | | Prescriptions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Lab tests | ❌ Refer out | ✅ On-site | | X-rays | ❌ Refer out | ✅ On-site |
Cost Breakdown
Without Insurance
Telehealth:
- MDLive: $49
- GoodRX Care: $49
- Teladoc: $75
- PlushCare: $99
Urgent Care:
- Basic visit: $150-$200
- With tests: $200-$500
- Complex issues: $300-$800
Savings with telehealth: $75-$250 per visit (60-80%)
With Insurance
Telehealth:
- Typical copay: $0-$50
- Many plans: $0 copay
- Same as primary care
Urgent Care:
- Typical copay: $50-$100
- Higher than primary care
- May have deductible
Savings with telehealth: $25-$75 per visit
When to Use Telehealth
Perfect for Telehealth ✅
- Cold and flu
- Sinus infections
- UTIs
- Pink eye
- Allergies
- Rashes
- Prescription refills
- Minor skin issues
- Stomach issues
- Headaches
Can Often Use Telehealth ⚠️
- Back pain
- Minor injuries (no X-ray needed)
- Mental health
- Chronic condition follow-ups
- Birth control
- STD testing (with at-home kit)
When to Use Urgent Care
Need Urgent Care ⚠️
- Suspected broken bones
- Deep cuts needing stitches
- Severe burns
- Eye injuries
- Severe allergic reactions
- Dehydration needing IV
- Severe pain
- High fever (104°F+)
Definitely Urgent Care 🚨
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding
- Head injuries
- Suspected appendicitis
- Severe abdominal pain
Real Cost Examples
Example 1: UTI
Telehealth:
- Visit: $49 (MDLive)
- Antibiotic with GoodRX: $10
- Total: $59
- Time: 20 minutes
Urgent Care:
- Visit: $200
- Urinalysis: $50
- Antibiotic: $30
- Total: $280
- Time: 2 hours
Savings: $221 (79%)
Example 2: Sinus Infection
Telehealth:
- Visit: $75 (Teladoc)
- Prescription: $15
- Total: $90
- Time: 15 minutes
Urgent Care:
- Visit: $175
- Prescription: $30
- Total: $205
- Time: 90 minutes
Savings: $115 (56%)
Example 3: Pink Eye
Telehealth:
- Visit: $49 (GoodRX Care)
- Eye drops: $12
- Total: $61
- Time: 10 minutes
Urgent Care:
- Visit: $150
- Eye drops: $25
- Total: $175
- Time: 60 minutes
Savings: $114 (65%)
Annual Savings
Family of 4 (Average 6 urgent care visits/year)
Traditional Urgent Care:
- 6 visits at $200: $1,200
- Prescriptions: $180
- Total: $1,380/year
Telehealth:
- 4 telehealth visits at $60: $240
- 2 urgent care visits: $400
- Prescriptions with GoodRX: $60
- Total: $700/year
Annual Savings: $680 (49%)
Wait Time Comparison
Telehealth
- Average wait: 5-15 minutes
- Peak times: 15-30 minutes
- Schedule ahead: Available
- Total time: 15-30 minutes
Urgent Care
- Average wait: 45-90 minutes
- Peak times: 90-180 minutes
- Schedule ahead: Rarely available
- Total time: 90-150 minutes
Time saved with telehealth: 60-120 minutes per visit
Convenience Comparison
Telehealth Advantages
- ✅ No travel time
- ✅ No parking hassle
- ✅ No exposure to sick people
- ✅ From home/work/anywhere
- ✅ Easier with kids
- ✅ No time off work needed
Urgent Care Advantages
- ✅ On-site lab tests
- ✅ X-rays available
- ✅ Physical exams
- ✅ Stitches/minor procedures
- ✅ IV fluids
- ✅ More comprehensive
Quality of Care
Telehealth
- Board-certified doctors
- Same prescribing ability
- Effective for 70% of urgent care visits
- High patient satisfaction (4.5/5 average)
Urgent Care
- Board-certified doctors
- Full diagnostic capabilities
- Can handle more complex issues
- High patient satisfaction (4.3/5 average)
Both provide quality care!
Insurance Coverage
Telehealth
- Most plans now cover
- Often $0 copay
- Same as primary care
- No deductible usually
Urgent Care
- All plans cover
- Higher copay ($50-$100)
- May apply to deductible
- More expensive
Decision Tree
Start Here: Can you describe your symptoms clearly?
- Yes → Try telehealth first
- No → Consider urgent care
Do you need lab tests or X-rays?
- Yes → Urgent care
- No → Telehealth
Is it after hours or weekend?
- Yes → Telehealth (faster, cheaper)
- No → Either works
Do you have young children?
- Yes → Telehealth (easier)
- No → Either works
Are you trying to save money?
- Yes → Telehealth (60-80% cheaper)
- No → Either works
Bottom Line
Use Telehealth When:
- ✅ Common illnesses (cold, flu, UTI)
- ✅ Want to save money
- ✅ Want to save time
- ✅ Don't need tests/X-rays
- ✅ Can describe symptoms clearly
Use Urgent Care When:
- ✅ Need lab tests or X-rays
- ✅ Suspected broken bones
- ✅ Need stitches
- ✅ Severe symptoms
- ✅ Need IV fluids
Try Telehealth First: For 70% of urgent care visits, telehealth can handle it at 1/3 the cost!
Get Started
Save time and money with telehealth:
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Last updated: October 2025