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Urgent care guide · Costs & insurance

Does urgent care take Medicare and Medicaid?

Updated

Short answer

Most urgent care centers accept Medicare, and many accept Medicaid, but not every clinic takes every Medicaid plan. In a 2023 industry report, 95 percent of urgent care centers billed Medicare. Call the clinic and name your specific plan before you go.

Medicare

Medicare Part B covers urgently needed care, which Medicare.gov describes as care for a sudden illness or injury that is not a medical emergency. After you meet the Part B deductible, $283 in 2026 according to CMS, you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the provider's services. In a hospital outpatient setting, you also pay a copayment.

The Urgent Care Association's 2023 finance survey found 95 percent of centers had reimbursements from the Medicare fee schedule. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan sets its own copays and network, so check your plan documents.

Medicaid

Medicaid is run by each state within federal rules. Physician services and laboratory and X-ray services are mandatory Medicaid benefits, according to Medicaid.gov, but whether a given urgent care center takes your Medicaid depends on its contracts.

Most Medicaid enrollees get care through a managed care plan: KFF reports that 78 percent were enrolled in risk-based managed care organizations as of July 2024. These plans have networks, so an urgent care center may accept one Medicaid plan in your state and not another.

The Urgent Care Association says centers that do not accept Medicaid most often cite payment rates that do not cover the cost of care and administrative burden.

TRICARE

TRICARE covers urgent care under all plans, and most beneficiaries do not need a referral. According to TRICARE, Prime enrollees other than active duty service members need no referral when they use a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or network provider; active duty service members in Prime do need one. Costs depend on your plan and beneficiary category.

Children with Medicaid or CHIP

Children covered by Medicaid or CHIP follow the same rule: the clinic must accept the child's specific plan. Some urgent care centers see only adults or only children, so ask about age limits too, and see pediatric urgent care.

How to find urgent care that takes your plan

  • Use your plan's provider directory; your Medicaid plan's member services number is on your card.
  • Browse urgent care by insurance and the urgent care finder for clinics near me.
  • Call the clinic and name your exact plan, for example your state Medicaid plan's brand name, not just Medicaid.
  • Community health centers accept Medicaid and Medicare, and HealthCare.gov says uninsured patients pay based on income.
  • Bring your Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE card and photo ID to the visit.

Frequently asked questions

Does urgent care take Medicare?

Yes, most do. Medicare Part B covers urgently needed care, and a 2023 Urgent Care Association report found 95 percent of centers billed Medicare. You pay 20 percent after the Part B deductible.

Do urgent care centers accept Medicaid?

Many do, but not all accept every Medicaid plan. Most Medicaid enrollees are in managed care plans with networks, so call the clinic and name your plan.

Does urgent care take TRICARE?

TRICARE covers urgent care under all plans. Most beneficiaries need no referral at a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center; active duty service members in Prime do.

How much does Medicare pay for urgent care?

After the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount and you pay 20 percent, plus a copayment in a hospital outpatient setting.

Find urgent care near me

Search by city or state to see urgent care centers and walk-in clinics, with hours where they are on file. Services differ from clinic to clinic, so call to confirm before you go.

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Related guides

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Sources

  1. Medicare.gov: Urgently needed care coverage
  2. CMS (2025): 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
  3. Urgent Care Association (2023): 2023 Urgent Care Industry White Paper
  4. Medicaid.gov: Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits
  5. KFF (2026): 10 Things to Know About Medicaid Managed Care
  6. TRICARE: Urgent Care
  7. TRICARE: Do I need a referral for urgent or emergency care?
  8. HealthCare.gov: Find low-cost care at community health centers

General information, not medical advice. Costs are typical figures from the sources above and vary by clinic, plan and location. In an emergency, call 911.