How much does a prescription refill appointment cost near me in 2022?

Prescription refill appointments are appointments with physicians or prescribing providers to refill or manage an existing prescription.  These are different from appointments for prescriptions for new medication.

The frequency and type of prescription refill appointment you need will vary depending on the type of medication you’re taking, your relationship with the provider, your past prescription or medical history, and more. In most cases, you can either see a doctor in-person or virtually, however your provider may ask you to come in for additional lab work if your medication requires it.

Cash Price for Prescription Refill Appointments Without Insurance

As we’ve discussed in prior posts, every doctor or medical service has a corresponding cash price - even if you don’t know it. Prescription refills are no different.

If you're uninsured - and have been for some time- you likely are familiar with cash prices for medical services. For those who are between insurance plans, recently uninsured, have a high deductible health plan, or just learning about cash prices, here’s how they work: 

Cash prices are prices set by providers for a given medical service, which you pay to the provider directly - without involving your insurance. After your appointment, your doctor or provider will not submit a claim to insurance, so the cost of your appointment will not count towards your deductible. Often, younger, healthier people with high deductible health plans find that paying cash for an appointment helps them save money and reduce their out-of-pocket costs, even if it doesn’t count towards their deductible. And don’t worry - you can still pay with your HSA.

What about seeing the doctor for a refill, and letting them bill my insurance?

The cost of refilling a prescription will vary state-to-state and provider-to-provider. Your insurance status, deductible, coinsurance, copay, and more will also determine your out-of-pocket costs. If you are seeing a doctor as part of a routine appointment, you’ll likely pay the copay listed on your insurance card - plus your coinsurance, if it kicks in. In some cases, this may be more expensive than paying cash for an appointment.

Read more about why you might choose to cash for an appointment, even if you have insurance.

Thinking of paying cash for a prescription refill appointment in 2022? Here’s what you can expect to pay:

The national average cash price for a telehealth appointment to refill a prescription is $43.40. The true cost will vary state-to-state and will likely be higher if you see a doctor in-person.

Bottomline is paying cash for a prescription refill is cheaper than using your insurance because of some array of factors. The amount a consumer pays at the pharmacy counter depends on a number of factors, including health insurance policies that set copayments and deductibles, the pharmacies they choose, and which PBM their employer or insurer hires to manage claims and negotiate prices with pharmacies and drugmakers.

Source: Sesame

Can My Doctor Charge Me for Refilling a Prescription?

It depends. There are no rules that compel providers to refill prescriptions for free - or charge for the appointment. However, if you see your doctor in-person or through a telehealth/virtual appointment, you should expect to be charged for it.

If you have a good relationship with your provider, you may be able to ask them via email or text to refill your prescription without an appointment. Often, providers will refill a prescription for you without an appointment for simple things like birth control, allergy medication, and more. However, your doctor may ask you to schedule a formal in-person or telehealth appointment after a few refills, especially if they’re refilling controlled substances or medication that may require lab or blood work to verify the efficacy or safety of continued usage.

Were you charged for requesting a refill? Peachy Pal helps patients get the most money back from their medical bills. We negotiate with healthcare providers to lower your total cost - and we’ll help you start that process for free, right now.