How Much Does Virtual Primary Care Cost Without Insurance in 2021?

The average cost of a virtual primary care visit without health insurance is $79, which is about $92 less than the cost of an office visit without insurance. Telehealth primary care appointments may require more follow-ups, lab testings, and other services than an office visit would require.

With a Mira membership, you can access virtual primary care, urgent care visits, lab testings, and up to 80% off prescriptions for just $45 per month. Try Mira today! 

The Cost of Virtual Primary Care

The average cost of a virtual primary care visit is $79 without health insurance; however, this flat rate does not include additional services such as needed prescriptions and outside lab testing.

Below is a list of possible providers that can enable you to consult with a primary care physician virtually. These costs will cover at least 15 minutes of consultation with a physician. In these virtual primary care appointments, physicians can prescribe prescriptions, educate patients on disease prevention techniques, diagnose acute illnesses, manage chronic conditions (like diabetes), and provide mental health support. 

Cost of Virtual Primary Care at Different Providers & Locations

Source: Penny Hoarder

In-Person Costs of Virtual Primary Care

There are additional services that may increase the price of your virtual primary care visit. Some of these costs may include in-person requirements such as flu testing or immunizations. When consulting with your primary care provider virtually, it is essential to consider how these additional services will impact the overall cost. 

Source: Mira

Factors that Influence the Cost of Virtual Primary Care

In addition to services, outside factors can cause the overall price of a virtual primary care visit to fluctuate. Some of these factors include but are not limited to: whether or not you have health insurance, how long your appointment is, and other services needed. 

Insurance Status

Whether or not you have health insurance can play a role in determining the cost of your virtual primary care visit. Typically, the five major providers— United Healthcare, Cigna,  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana— cover virtual primary care visits. In general, most primary care visits will be less than $50 for those with insurance, but the overall cost varies from plan to plan. Most individuals should be prepared to pay for some copay for the virtual visit. To confirm the price, if you have health insurance, it is best to consult with your provider to ensure the price.

If you do not have health insurance, the flat rate you must pay is left up to the type of platform you choose to go through. The average cost for a virtual primary care visit was found to be $79. 

Duration of Appointment

The length of your virtual primary care consultation can also cause the price to fluctuate. Typically, the longer the length of your visit, the more expensive your appointment will become. Before scheduling your appointment, you can consult with your provider or the provider facilitating the appointment to see if they charge per duration.

Services Needed

If you require any of the services mentioned in the table above, such as a flu test or additional immunizations, the cost of your visit can increase. Additionally, if you have a condition that may require you to receive a combination of these additional services, the price can increase astronomically. 

If you have a medical condition that requires consistent check-ups, the overall cost of your virtual primary care visits can also increase through the rates that you will have to pay at each additional check-up.

Virtual Primary Care Visits Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Understanding when you need a virtual visit, how they work, and interpreting the costs of virtual primary care visits can become complicated. To have a better understanding of them, check out some of our answers to these commonly asked questions.

How do I know when I can use a virtual primary care visit as opposed to an in-office visit?

Virtual primary care visits can be used for times such as if you need to have a prescription filled, need help with disease prevention techniques, or want to manage chronic conditions (like hypertension). Additionally, it can be utilized if you need mental health support or diagnosing and treating acute illnesses.

However, in-office visits may be better if you need hands-on examinations done, such as physicals or PAP smears. Individuals also cannot have a virtual primary care visit if they need lab tests, immunizations, or other tests like a flu test.

What are the benefits of virtual primary care?

There are a variety of benefits to a virtual primary care visit for both patients and medical providers. Patients can protect themselves from other illnesses, as they do not have to go in-person to a clinic. For example, if an individual is sick, they can stay home and consult with a physician virtually to reduce the chances of infecting other individuals.

In addition to slowing the spread of illnesses, the costs of virtual visits will be cheaper than an in-person visit. Lastly, telemedicine is more convenient for patients, as they can receive the medical care they need from the comfort of their own homes.

For medical providers, virtual visits are beneficial because they reduce overhead expenses and access additional revenue streams. They also will be less exposed to illnesses, as they do not have to fear any pathogens that patients may be spreading to them.

How can I save money on virtual primary care?

Although there are factors that can increase the overall cost of your virtual primary care visit, there are also avenues to reduce the cost. Some of these ways include:

• If you have health insurance, consult with your provider to see how you can lower overall costs or use your plan to reduce certain out-of-pocket expenses.
• Use Mira to receive access to discounts on specific prescriptions your provider may prescribe, or to receive access to low-cost virtual primary care visits.

Bottom Line

Virtual primary care visits play an essential part in maintaining patients’ health while simultaneously keeping their medical bills low. For an average of $79 for those without health insurance, individuals can receive access to needed prescriptions, medical diagnoses, and treatment recommendations, all while in the comfort of their own homes.

Sign up for a Mira membership today to receive access to affordable virtual primary care visits. By joining today, you can also access urgent care visits, lab testings, and up to 80% off on over 1000 unique prescriptions.