Lost Your Insurance? What Cash-Pay Telehealth Actually Costs vs. What You Think It Costs

If you've recently lost your insurance, whether from a job change, a move, or just a gap between plans, the instinct is usually to put off any care that isn't an emergency. That instinct is understandable, but it can end up costing more than it saves.

What people assume cash-pay costs

Most people picture "no insurance" and think of the sticker-shock numbers attached to a full ER visit or a specialist consult, hundreds or thousands of dollars. That fear keeps people from seeking care they actually need, sometimes until a minor issue becomes a much bigger one.

How much does telehealth cost without insurance?

An acute, quick care visit with me starts at $99, with most standard visits (more complex) landing around $150. That's a flat, transparent number, no surprise billing, no separate facility fee, no negotiating with an insurance company after the fact. Labs and imaging are billed separately based on exactly what's ordered, and I tell you the cost before anything is sent, not after.

Compare that to an average urgent care copay or a walk-in visit paid out of pocket, depending on the clinic, which frequently runs $150 to $250 before any labs are added, plus the time cost of driving somewhere and sitting in a waiting room.

Why waiting often costs more

A UTI treated early is a $99 visit and a course of antibiotics. A UTI left untreated because you were waiting to "figure out your insurance situation" can become a kidney infection and an ER visit. The same logic applies to a lot of what feels postponable, medication refills, minor infections, follow-up care after a hospital stay. Waiting rarely makes the problem cheaper.

You don't need coverage to be seen

Cash pay means exactly that: you can book a visit today, without waiting to sort out a new plan, without a referral, and without paperwork delays. If you do have any insurance, even if it doesn't cover visits with me, I provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, and you're welcome to use your insurance directly for labs, imaging, or prescriptions where it applies.

Being between coverage doesn't have to mean being without care. It just means paying directly for exactly what you need, with the price known upfront.

You can learn more about how visits work here, or book a visit to get started.