How much does it cost to go to a walk-in clinic in Ontario? If you are a resident and covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), your visit will be free. One of the few exceptions to this is if you are prescribed medication. You will need to pay for your prescription out of pocket though there are programs to help with this cost as well. For persons not covered under OHIP, a walk-in clinic provides an affordable, convenient alternative to an emergency room or visit to a primary care physician.
Here we will look at potential costs associated with a walk-in clinic visit along with what services a walk-in clinic offers and when you should consider visiting one.
What is a Walk-In Clinic?
A walk-in clinic provides care without the need for an appointment. Retail walk-in clinics, urgent care facilities, free community health centres and emergency rooms are all considered “walk-in” care options. When referring to a walk-in clinic, this usually means a retail clinic located within a pharmacy.
Their location within local pharmacies often makes these clinics the most convenient medical care options. Walk-in clinics also offer some of the shortest wait times compared to an emergency room or making an appointment with your physician.
When Should You Go to a Walk-In Clinic?
A walk-in clinic provides treatment and diagnosis for a wide range of common illnesses and health concerns. Staffed by a nurse or a physician’s assistant, these clinics provide professional care without the wait times associated with seeing your personal doctor.
You should go to a walk-in clinic if any of these situations apply to you:
- You do not have a primary care physician but need help now
- You have a non-emergency concern that cannot wait until you see your doctor
- You have a non life threatening illness or injury including but not limited to: sinus infection, strep throat, urinary tract infection, minor rash, cut or scrape.
When Should you NOT Go to a Walk-In Clinic?
Walk-in clinics provide a multitude of essential services but they do have limits. A retail walk-in clinic like you would find in a pharmacy cannot handle serious injuries like a bone break, head injury or injuries sustained from a major accident. If you are experiencing severe and sudden pain especially in your chest or head, an ER is a better choice.
Benefits of a Walk-In Clinic
A walk-in clinic has several benefits. First and foremost, they are convenient. Since they are located inside retail pharmacies, they are often close to where people live and work. Secondly, they provide on-demand care without an appointment and without the long wait times typically found in an ER. Finally, they are a good choice for residents covered by OHIP and also anyone not covered. Insured persons get most services free and uninsured persons will typically be charged a price lower than a doctor’s office or urgent care facility.
What Services are Offered at a Walk-In Clinic?
Along with diagnosis and treatment of common acute illnesses, rashes and cuts, a walk-in clinic may also provide the following: vaccines, health screening tests, allergy tests and basic physicals.
What walk-in clinics do NOT provide is x-rays, treatment for broken bones and treatment for any serious, emergency situations. More complex symptoms without an obvious cause and severe pain will likely not be able to be diagnosed or treated in a walk-in clinic. Severe intestinal issues including diarrhea and vomiting can also not be helped at a walk-in clinic.
In these cases, the clinic will suggest you go to the ER, your primary care physician or urgent care depending on the severity of your symptoms. Your regular doctor will be better equipped to diagnose more complex issues and both an ER and urgent care will have more resources available to address serious conditions.
Walk-In Clinic Costs for Those Not Covered By OHIP
If you are not covered by OHIP, you can expect your walk-in clinic visit to cost somewhere between $50 and $150 depending on several factors. Ontario residents who simply do not have a valid health card (i.e. your health card is expired), will pay on the lower end of this range while a resident of a foreign country will be on the higher end.
Other factors that may contribute to cost include whether or not you receive treatment on a holiday or weekend. These are considered peak times and may incur extra costs. Other services you may receive such as testing for strep throat will have its own cost in addition to the base cost of the consultation.
Though these prices are certainly more expensive compared to the free price tag that residents get, they are still considerably more affordable than a trip to the ER. They are also much faster than trying to schedule an appointment with a doctor in most cases.
Prescription Costs at a Walk-In Clinic
Prescription medications are one of the few medical items or services not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The exception to this is if you have a hospital stay. Medications administered during a hospital stay will be covered by OHIP.
The Ontario healthcare system offers several options for residents who need help with affording prescription drugs. For Ontarians over 65, there is the Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB). This co-payment program assesses eligibility based on income. Those who are younger than 65 but live in a long-term care facility or are receiving other special care may also be eligible. Ontarians under 24 who are not covered under another private insurance may also qualify.
The Trillium Drug Program offers payment help to younger Ontarians who cannot afford their prescriptions or who are spending a significant portion of their income on prescriptions. Currently, if your prescriptions equal or exceed 4% of your household income you may be a qualified candidate.
How to Calculate Cost of a Walk-In Clinic Visit
If you are not covered by OHIP, prices for the services you receive will vary depending on the clinic you go to. Typically prices will be listed on a clinic’s website so you can easily calculate your cost and avoid any surprise expenses.
At BCML, we offer a wide range of services for both patients covered by OHIP and those without insurance. We will work with you to get the care you need at the best price. To learn more about our services and fees, call us at 416-929-1900.
