Short answer: The price of a doctor visit without insurance varies a lot by doctor and place, so ask before you book. If you do not use insurance, you can ask for a written price estimate. In most cases, providers must give you one if you ask, or if you schedule care at least 3 business days ahead.
There is no single price for a visit. The cost depends on the doctor, the type of practice, where you live, and what you need done. A short visit for a cold is different from a visit that includes tests or a procedure. Because of this, we do not list a dollar figure on this page. A single number would not tell you what your own visit will cost.
Call the office and ask for the price of the exact visit you want. Say plainly that you will not use insurance. Ask what is included and what costs extra, such as lab tests, X-rays or supplies. Ask them to send the answer by email or text so you have it in writing.
For other ways to get care, such as community health centers, read how to see a doctor without insurance.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that runs these rules, says that if you do not have or use health insurance, providers usually must give you a good faith estimate of what your care will cost. A good faith estimate is a written list of the expected charges. You get one if you ask for it or if you schedule care at least 3 business days in advance. You will not get one during emergency care. Care that was not expected will not be on the estimate, and the estimate covers one provider at a time, so ask each provider or facility.
If your final bill is at least $400 more than the estimate, you may be able to dispute it. The CMS pages in the sources below explain how a dispute works.
Some doctors charge a regular membership fee instead of billing for each visit. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a national group of family doctors, describes direct primary care as a model where patients pay a recurring membership fee that covers most primary care services. These fees are usually charged monthly, quarterly or yearly. The fee does not cover everything, so ask what is left out. You can see what direct primary care costs in each state on our price report, or read about what direct primary care is.
If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or another emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a price. You can also find a direct-pay doctor near you.
CMS says that if you do not have or use health insurance, providers usually must give you a good faith estimate if you ask or schedule care at least 3 business days ahead.
It depends on how often you need care and what the membership covers. Ask for the fee, what is included, and what costs extra, then compare.
No. CMS says you will not get an estimate during emergency care. In an emergency, call 911.
