Does Medicare Cover Urgent Care Visits?
Medicare does cover urgent care visits. These visits are for an unexpected injury or illness that is not serious enough to be considered a medical emergency. Medicare will pay for 80% of the cost of a visit. You will need to meet the Part B deductible first, then pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for all services and tests.
- Written by Christian Simmons
Christian Simmons
Financial Writer
Christian Simmons is a writer for RetireGuide and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®). He covers Medicare and important retirement topics. Christian is a former winner of a Florida Society of News Editors journalism contest and has written professionally since 2016.
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Lee WilliamsLee Williams
Senior Financial Editor
Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.
Read More- Published: June 22, 2021
- Updated: February 1, 2023
- 10 min read time
- This page features 7 Cited Research Articles
- Edited By
Medicare Plan | Urgent Care Coverage |
---|---|
Part A (Inpatient) | N/A |
Part B (Outpatient) | Covers 80% of urgent care visit services and tests after you have reached your Part B deductible. You will also owe copayments for each service received. |
Part C (Medicare Advantage) | Costs for urgent care visits vary by plan. |
Part D (Prescription Drugs) | Yes |
Supplemental Insurance | Can help cover out-of-pocket costs related to urgent care visits. Coverage varies by plan. |
Medicare Coverage for Urgent Care Visits
Urgent care visits offer access to immediate medical attention for unexpected injuries or illnesses. Medicare will cover these visits and any treatment or procedures you receive during your visit under Part B.
- Bleeding from a cut
- Cough
- Fever
- Minor broken bones or fractures
- Rashes
- Urinary tract infections
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Urgent care clinics also offer other Medicare-covered services outside of immediate illness and injury. For example, you can receive annual physicals and X-rays at clinics, as well as vaccine and immunization shots.
Remember, an urgent care visit is for minor, unexpected medical conditions. Anything more serious would require a trip to the emergency room.
Medicare also covers emergency department services for these situations.
Expected Costs of Urgent Care Visits
If you have Original Medicare — Part A and B, collectively — then 80% of the cost for treatment and services received at an urgent care clinic will be covered.
With Part B, you will have to meet a deductible before coverage begins. After the deductible has been met, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost.
You will also have to pay a copayment if you receive care in a hospital outpatient setting.
Urgent care visits are also covered through a Medicare Advantage plan since they include everything covered in Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans also include additional benefits and coverage and what is offered in Part A and Part B.
Check with your plan provider to learn about any expanded coverage available related to urgent care trips.
As a result of your urgent care clinic, a doctor or healthcare provider may recommend a prescription drug to help you recover from your injury or illness.
Prescription drug coverage is not available through Original Medicare — but is covered by Medicare Part D as an optional benefit through private insurers.
Medicare Reimbursement for an Urgent Care Visit
As with most Part B coverage, your urgent care visit will only be covered if the clinic you visit and the doctor or healthcare provider who treats you are enrolled in Medicare.
It is important to inquire about this before you receive any services to make sure that you are covered. If not, then you will have to pay out-of-pocket for any treatment you receive.
However, you can file a Medicare reimbursement claim later to get your money back even if the clinic is not enrolled.
When filing the claim, you will need to include the bill from the doctor or clinic as well as a letter explaining your reasoning for wanting reimbursement. You can find the form to fill out here.
You must file the claim within a year of when you received the services in question.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, then you do not need to file a claim.
Medicare Coverage for Urgent Care Visits FAQs
This will give you a list of urgent care facilities near you. But not all the providers on this list may accept Medicare. Check with them first.
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7 Cited Research Articles
- NH HealthCost. (2018, June 15). What are urgent care centers? Are they less expensive? Do I need a referral? Retrieved from https://nhhealthcost.nh.gov/guide/question/what-are-urgent-care-centers-are-they-less-expensive-do-i-need-referral
- Idaho State University (2016, June 1). Immunization and Vaccinations Available at Urgent Care Clinics. Retrieved from https://blog.cetrain.isu.edu/blog/immunization-and-vaccinations-available-at-urgent-care-clinics
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2015, April 10). CMS Manual System. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/downloads/R206BP.pdf
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Emergency department services. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/emergency-department-services
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). How do I file a claim? Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/claims-appeals/how-do-i-file-a-claim
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Urgently needed care. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/urgently-needed-care
- Medicare.gov. (n.d.) Part B costs. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs
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