Price Comparison List
* Please be advised, balance owed with insurance can vary from prices listed below.
| IHA (Fees Without Insurance*) | |
|---|---|
| Base Fee for Service | $115.00 |
| Sports Physical | $50.00 |
| Tdap Injections (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) | $75.00 |
| Ear Wax Removal | $100.00 |
| Work Physical Permit/Minor | $60.00 |
| EKG | $50.00 |
| X-Rays | $110.00 |
| Laceration Repair (stitches) | $155.00 - $200.00 |
| Nebulizer Treatments | $45.00 |
| Little/Minute Clinics | |
|---|---|
| Fee For Service (FFS) | $99.00 - $139.00 |
| Sports Physical | $29.00 - $69.00 |
| Tdap Injections (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) | $99.00 - $105.00 |
| Ear Wax Removal | $99.00 - $139.00 |
| Work Physical Permit/Minor | $59.00 - $109.00 |
| EKG | Not Offered |
| X-Rays | Not Offered |
| Laceration Repair (stitches) | $150.00 - $195.00 |
| Nebulizer Treatments | $139.00 |
Cost Estimates for Emergency Rooms vs. Urgent Care Centers
The cost of a hospital emergency room visit can be 5-10x the cost of an urgent care visit, and the majority of hospital visits are considered non-emergency.
American Family Care, a franchise of urgent care centers founded in 1982, estimates the average urgent care visit at between $100 and $200.
Average emergency room costs vary wildly based on treatment, but a Health Care Cost Institute study put the average cost at $1,389 in 2017. Citing "new data," the Institute estimated in a 2021 report that spending per person on ER visits increased 51% from 2012-2019 and that out-of-pocket costs increased 85%.
The following estimated costs were prepared by Medica Choice Network for nine of the most common reasons people visit the ER. They were determined by calculating the average number of claims submitted in 2010 to the Medica Choice Network, a system of more than 4,000 medical offices, clinics and hospitals across four Midwestern states.
| Condition | Average Emergency Room Cost | *Average Urgent Care Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies | $345 | $97 |
| Acute Bronchitis | $595 | $127 |
| Earache | $400 | $110 |
| Sore Throat | $525 | $94 |
| Pink Eye | $370 | $102 |
| Sinusitis | $617 | $112 |
| Strep Throat | $531 | $111 |
| Upper Respiratory Infection | $486 | $111 |
| Urinary Tract Infection | $665 | $112 |
*Above Average Urgent Care Costs are based on nationwide study, and not specific to IHA Urgent Care Centers
Patients should also be aware of costs for facilities like Free Standing Emergency Departments, Advanced Urgent Cares, Express Cares, etc. These facilities may not be physically connected to a hospital, but are often owned by local hospital systems. While they may be less costly than the ER, they still charge higher co-pays and/or specialist rates and are significantly costlier than urgent care centers.
The Annals of Internal Medicine study found that the average cost of an urgent care visit for three common illnesses - middle ear infection, pharyngitis and urinary tract infection - was $155. Other estimates place the average urgent care visit at anywhere from $71 to $125.
Then there is the time factor to consider. Patients at urgent care centers are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis and average less than 30 minutes from the time they arrive until they depart. Emergency rooms treat patients based on the severity of condition. Patients with life-threatening injuries go first.
"If the illness or acute concern happens after-hours and without access to your primary care provider, an urgent care center, online self-assessment resource, or virtual care service are alternatives that can help avoid ER visits," said Aiken. "Of course, for emergencies, the ER is absolutely necessary and a critical resource for our communities."