Doctor visit cost without insurance, by visit type
A returning-patient visit for an everyday problem usually costs $90–$230, and a new-patient visit $110–$280; the most involved visits run past $340. Doctors bill office visits by level: the more complicated the problem and the more the doctor has to weigh, the higher the level and the price. Each level has its own code, and Medicare publishes a payment for every one of them.[1][2]
| Visit | Code | Medicare pays | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returning patient, routine problem | 99213 | $92 | $90 | $140 | $230 |
| Returning patient, more complex | 99214 | $131 | $130 | $200 | $330 |
| Returning patient, most complex | 99215 | $183 | $180 | $280 | $460 |
| New patient, routine problem | 99203 | $114 | $110 | $170 | $280 |
| New patient, more complex | 99204 | $170 | $170 | $250 | $420 |
| New patient, most complex | 99205 | $225 | $230 | $340 | $560 |
A visit for one straightforward problem, such as a rash or a prescription refill, is typically billed at a lower level than one that juggles several conditions, new medicines or a test result that changes the plan. The office decides the level after the visit, so ask at booking which level they expect and what the self-pay price is for it.
New patient or returning patient: why the first visit costs more
A first visit with a practice costs about 21% more than a follow-up of the same complexity, because new-patient codes pay for a fuller history and exam. If you have not been seen by the practice for several years, it will usually bill you as new again, so ask how they will classify you before you book.
Who owns the practice matters too. When a clinic is a department of a hospital, Medicare pays the hospital a separate facility payment for each clinic visit on top of the doctor's fee, and self-pay patients can receive a facility charge as well.[3] Independent practices bill only the visit.
What the visit price includes, and what is billed on top
The visit fee pays for the doctor's time: listening, examining you and deciding what to do. Anything that is tested, injected or repaired is its own line on the bill.
| Added service | Extra cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
Rapid strep test 87880 | $25–$170 | Run in the office in minutes |
Urinalysis 81001 | $5–$30 | Urine test, often for a suspected urinary infection |
Metabolic panel 80053 with blood draw | $30–$200 | Kidney, liver, glucose and electrolytes |
Cholesterol panel 80061 with blood draw | $35–$230 | Usually ordered fasting |
Hemoglobin A1c 83036 with blood draw | $30–$190 | Average blood sugar |
Lab prices start from Medicare's clinical lab fee schedule, which pays one national amount per test; cash prices for lab tests climb much further above that amount than doctors' fees do, so the lab ranges here are wider.[4][6] For more tests, see what blood work costs without insurance. A yearly checkup is billed differently from a sick visit; see the cost of a physical.
What affects the price of a doctor visit
| Factor | Effect on price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Visit level | $140 → $280 typical, returning patient | More complex decisions are billed at higher levels |
| New or returning patient | About 21% more for a new patient | The first visit includes a full history |
| Primary care or specialist | Specialists usually charge more | Insurers pay about 117% of Medicare for office visits but 144% for specialty services[5] |
| Hospital-owned clinic | A facility charge may be added | Hospitals bill their clinic visits separately from the doctor |
| Your area | $120 (Arkansas) to $170 (California: San Jose (Santa Clara County)) typical | Medicare adjusts each code for local rent and wages |
| Tests and procedures | Each is a separate charge | Labs, X-rays, shots and stitches are billed by item |
How these prices compare with hospital cash prices
Our ranges line up with the cash prices hospitals post for the same visits. In 2021, the median hospital-posted cash price was $166 for a routine new-patient visit, $203 for a more complex one and $246 for the most complex.[6] Our typical figures for the same three visits are $170, $250 and $340, and each hospital median falls inside our range for that visit. The low end of our ranges is 1.0× what Medicare pays, reflecting lower-priced offices and clinics.
Urgent care is priced in the same band. In employer health plan claims, the average urgent care visit price rose from $195 in 2018 to $220 in 2022.[7] If you need to be seen today and your doctor has no opening, compare urgent care prices without insurance before you go to an emergency room.
Ways to pay less for a doctor visit
- Ask for the self-pay price when you book, and which visit level they expect. Ask too whether the office has a flat cash rate for a basic visit and how it compares with their standard charge.
- Try a community health center. Federally funded health centers discount their fees by income: a full discount at or below the poverty line and partial discounts up to twice it.[9] They cannot turn you away because you cannot pay.[10] Compare options on our sliding scale clinic page.
- Book ahead and ask for a written estimate. When you schedule at least three business days ahead, or simply ask, an uninsured patient is entitled to a good faith estimate of the charges.[8] See how a good faith estimate works.
- Choose an independent practice over a hospital-owned clinic when you can, to avoid a separate facility charge.
- Ask where your blood will be tested. An outside lab may charge less than the office or the hospital lab.
- If the bill is higher than you expected, use the Medicare amount from the estimator as your anchor and follow the steps in how to negotiate medical bills.
Same-day problem? For a minor illness or injury, urgent care is usually priced like an office visit, while an emergency room bills a hospital facility fee on top of the doctor (see ER visit costs). If you think it is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER; this site compares prices only, so ask a doctor about your symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a doctor visit cost without insurance for a new patient?
About $110–$280 for a routine first visit and $170–$420 for a more complex one at national self-pay prices, with the typical figures near $170 and $250. Prices are higher in expensive metro areas; the estimator adjusts for your state or city.
What is the doctor visit cost without insurance for a follow-up?
A returning-patient visit for a routine problem usually costs $90–$230, and $130–$330 if it is more involved. Tests done in the office are extra.
Does a doctor visit price include blood work?
No. The visit covers the doctor's time; lab tests are billed separately, often by an outside lab. A metabolic panel with the blood draw typically adds $30–$200. See blood work prices.
Sources
- Medicare Program; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1848-F)
- PFS Relative Value Files: RVU27A (PPRRVU2027_Jan), released November 10, 2026
- CY 2027 OPPS/ASC final rule with comment period (CMS-1850-FC) and Addenda A and B
- Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, CY 2026 fourth quarter release (26CLABQ4)
- The Prices That Commercial Health Insurers and Medicare Pay for Hospitals' and Physicians' Services
- Comparison of US Hospital Cash Prices and Commercial Negotiated Prices for 70 Services (Jiang, Makary, Bai)
- HCCI Analysis Finds Urgent Care Spending Surged 50% in Five Years (press release)
- Good faith estimate guide (No Surprises Act, uninsured and self-pay patients)
- Health Center Program Compliance Manual, Chapter 9: Sliding Fee Discount Program
- 42 U.S.C. 254b: Health centers (no patient denied care for inability to pay)
- Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)