Short answer: yes. Total Health Urgent Care in Covington accepts most major health insurance plans and bills your insurer directly, so you usually just pay your copay at the visit. If you are not sure what your plan covers, it is worth a quick call to us at (985) 400-5370 before you come in, and we will help you get a clear out-of-pocket estimate.
Cost is the thing that stops a lot of folks from walking in when they are sick, and that is a shame, because a sinus infection or a sprained ankle should not turn into a guessing game about money. So here is exactly how insurance works at an urgent care visit, what you will owe, and what to have in your bag when you come see us on the Northshore.
Does urgent care take insurance?
Yes. Total Health Urgent Care accepts most major health insurance plans and files the claim with your insurance company for you. You do not pay the full sticker price up front. In most cases you pay a copay, which is a fixed amount your plan has already decided on, and we bill your insurer for the rest. If you would rather not go through insurance, you can still be seen as a self-pay patient at a flat, posted rate.
Not sure whether your plan counts as “in-network” with us? Call your insurance company (the member services number is on the back of your card) or call us and we will look into it. A little five-minute phone call beforehand saves a lot of surprise later.
How much is an urgent care copay with insurance?
Your copay is set by your insurance provider, not by us, so the amount depends on your plan. It is usually printed right on your insurance card, often labeled something like “urgent care” or “specialist.” A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered service, per the definition on HealthCare.gov, and it is typically all you owe at the desk when your visit is covered.
Two other terms show up on medical bills and trip people up, so here is the plain-English version:
- Deductible: the amount you pay for covered care before your plan starts paying its share.
- Coinsurance: your percentage share of a covered service after you have met your deductible.
Your plan decides how a deductible or coinsurance applies to a given visit, so the total can vary from one person to the next. When in doubt, we would rather you call ahead and get a clear number than worry about it in the waiting room.
What should I bring to urgent care?
Bring your insurance card and a photo ID, and you are basically set. To run your coverage smoothly, have these ready:
- Your primary insurance card (and your secondary card too, if you carry one).
- A photo ID.
- A list of any medications you take and any allergies.
- A payment method for your copay.
If you are bringing a child or a family member, bring their card and ID as well. Walk-ins are always welcome at our Covington urgent care clinic, and you are also welcome to request an appointment through our contact page if you would rather send your info ahead.
Can I use an HSA or FSA card at urgent care?
Absolutely. An urgent care visit is a qualified medical expense under IRS rules, so you can pay your copay, your self-pay fee, or your coinsurance with a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) card. Bring it along and use it like any other card. For a standard sick or injury visit, you are covered.
What if I do not have insurance? Self-pay pricing
No insurance, no problem, and no runaround on the price. Total Health Urgent Care keeps self-pay pricing simple and posted up front:
That office visit rate covers you being seen, examined, referred if you need it, and prescribed medication when appropriate. On-site X-ray is separate at $75, and if you need lab work or an IV from our TOTAL DRIP menu, we will go over that with you too. You can see more on our pricing and insurance page, or call (985) 400-5370 for an exact number tied to your situation before you commit to anything.
Do I need a referral to be seen at urgent care?
You can walk in and be seen without an appointment, that is how urgent care works. Whether your specific insurance plan requires a referral for coverage is a plan-by-plan thing, though, so if you are on a plan type that leans on referrals, check with your insurer first. For most people on most plans, you can just come in.
Does insurance cover work physicals, drug screens, and DOT exams?
Here is one that surprises people: employer-related visits usually are not billed to your health insurance. Pre-employment physicals, DOT and non-DOT physicals, and drug or alcohol screens are generally paid by you or your employer rather than run through a medical plan, because they are not treatment for an illness or injury. These are part of our urgent care services. Give us a call and we will sort out who is paying what.
Is urgent care cheaper than the ER with insurance?
For the kind of problems urgent care handles, yes, it is usually much less expensive than a hospital emergency room, both in what you owe and in how long you wait. An ER copay or coinsurance is typically far higher than an urgent care copay. That said, cost should never be the reason you skip real emergency care. For a medical emergency, call 911. Chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, heavy bleeding, and other life-threatening symptoms belong in the ER, every time.
For everything in between, the sore throats, ear infections, minor fractures, cuts that need stitches, fevers, and flu, our Covington clinic is a faster, more affordable place to get care.
Come see us on the Northshore
You will find Total Health Urgent Care at 73015 Hwy 25, Suite A, just north of downtown Covington. We are open every single day, 7 AM to 7 PM, and we care for patients from all over the Northshore: Madisonville, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Folsom, Franklinton, St Benedict, and right here in Covington itself. If “urgent care near me” is what brought you here, we are open now during those hours, no appointment needed. Bring your card, bring yourself, and we will take care of the rest.
Have a question about your coverage or a self-pay estimate? Call us at (985) 400-5370 or reach out through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
We accept most major health insurance plans and bill your insurer directly, so you typically just pay your plan’s copay at the visit. If you are unsure whether your plan is in-network, call us at (985) 400-5370 and we will help you check.
Your copay is set by your insurance company, not the clinic, so it varies by plan. It is usually printed on your insurance card. For the exact amount tied to your plan, check with your insurer or call us at (985) 400-5370.
Bring your primary insurance card (and secondary card if you have one), a photo ID, a list of your medications and allergies, and a way to pay your copay. For a child or family member, bring their card and ID too.
Total Health Urgent Care charges a flat self-pay office visit fee of $130, which includes the exam, referrals, and prescribing medication. On-site X-ray is $75, and school or sports physicals are free for student athletes.
Yes. An urgent care visit is a qualified medical expense under IRS rules, so you can pay your copay, self-pay fee, or coinsurance with an HSA or FSA card.
You can walk in and be seen without an appointment. Whether your particular insurance plan requires a referral for coverage depends on the plan, so check with your insurer if you are unsure.
Prepared by the team at Total Health Urgent Care, the Covington clinic founded by Jennifer Duncan, APRN, MSN, FNP-C. Consider this general information about insurance and billing, not medical or financial advice. For a medical emergency, call 911.
