How Much Do Walgreens Physicals Cost? (2024)

Last Updated on June 4, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Getting an annual physical exam is one of the most important preventive health steps. Walgreens clinics provide a convenient and affordable option for your annual checkup, with transparent pricing and online booking.

Knowing what to expect cost-wise can help you plan and budget for this vital wellness service. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the typical costs, services included, insurance coverage, and patient experience with Walgreens physical exams.

Regular preventive physicals allow for early detection of health issues, screening and diagnosis of medical conditions, updating immunizations, and an overall assessment of your wellness.Walgreens clinics offer convenient and affordable physical exams at transparent pricing.

How Much Do Walgreens Physicals Cost?

The typical cost for Walgreens physicals for a baseline exam ranges from$109 to $159depending on your location. This cost represents outstanding value compared to physicals from primary care providers.

Walgreens Physical Exam Cost Overview

• Average Cost Nationwide: $135
• Average Cost in Major Metro Areas: $145
• Average Cost in Suburban/Rural Areas: $125

How Walgreens Physical Costs Compare

• CVS MinuteClinic Physicals: $119 – $169
• Target Clinic Physicals: $129 – $179
• Urgent Care Physicals: $150 – $300
• Primary Care Physicals: $180 – $350

Walgreens physical exams are around25-50% cheaperthan those from private practice physicians or urgent care clinics.

Walgreens provides detailed information on the cost of physicals at their Healthcare Clinic. According to their website, a typical sick visit starts at $89, with fees potentially higher depending on additional tests and procedures, as well as the complexity and length of the visit.

UHealth Clinic at Walgreens offers physical exams at various locations across South Florida. The cost of these exams is $60 and up, with administrative physicals and sports, school, and camp physicals available.

UHealth Clinic at Walgreens Biscayne lists the cost of minor illnesses and testing as $22 to $180, medications and treatments as $89 to $109, minor injuries as $89 to $109, ongoing health conditions as $89 to $109, and physicals as $60 to $109.

Walgreens Healthcare Clinic offers sports, school, and camp physicals at select locations. These exams typically cost $89 to $109 and are not covered by insurance. Payment by cash or credit card is required at the time of service.

Importance of an Annual Physical Exam

A physical exam allows your doctor to fully assess your health with various tests, screenings, evaluation of risk factors, and consultation on maintaining wellness. Preventive physicals provide immense healthcare value including:

• Early detection of medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, heart disease, etc. before they progress
• Updating immunizations like flu shots, Tdap boosters, shingles vaccines
• Identification of potential health risks based on family history, lifestyle factors, etc.
• Benchmark wellness data like weight, cholesterol, blood pressure to monitor over time
• Establishing open communication with a provider about all health concerns
• Reassurance of overall well-being with a clean bill of health

Doctors recommend annual physical exams starting at age 18, and more frequently for those 40 and older or with chronic medical issues.

Walgreens healthcare clinics offer exceptional convenience, transparent pricing, and expanded preventive care services with physical exams costing $109-$159 on average.

Factors Affecting Physical Exam Costs

Several variables can affect the final out-of-pocket cost of your Walgreens physical exam:

• Location and Regional Cost of Living: Physical exam prices can range from$125 to $155 depending on if you live in major metro areas like New York or Los Angeles versus suburban/rural regions.
• Add-on Services and Testing: Electing to add extra lab tests like cholesterol screening or procedures like immunizations increases costs. These additions can range from$20 – $150 per item.
• Use of Medical Insurance: With insurance coverage, you simply pay any applicable copays/coinsurance which are generally quite low, around$20 – $50. Uninsured patients pay the full retail cost.
• Discount Programs: Walgreens offers a 20% discount program for $20/year that reduces costs for uninsured patients. Those with demonstrated financial need may qualify for additional sliding scale discounts that cansave up to 40% off physical exam fees.

What’s Included

You might also like our articles about the cost of a general annual physical exam, or an eye exam either at Walmart or Sam’s Club.

A preventive physical exam at Walgreens will include a thorough wellness assessment with all the essential screening components.

Elements of a Walgreens Physical

• Review of Full Medical, Family, and Social History: Your medical history, conditions, medications, family health background, and lifestyle factors are discussed.
• Vital Signs Check: Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate, and weight and height for BMI are checked.
• Physical Examination: A full head-to-toe physical exam is performed, checking all major organ systems.
• Wellness Consultation: Your provider will discuss health risk factors, needed lifestyle improvements, mental health, sexual health, substance use, and answer any questions.
• Recommended Screenings/Immunizations: Any cancer screenings, lab tests, or vaccines recommended by your age and risk profile will be reviewed.

Available Add-On Services and Testing

Additional services that patients can elect to add on during a Walgreens physical for further preventive screening include:

• Immunizations: Flu shot, Tdap booster, HPV vaccine, shingles vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, etc.
• Preventive Health Screenings: Cholesterol check, diabetes screening, STD testing, skincare cancer check, and more.
• Lab Testing: Blood work, urine testing, tuberculosis skin test, vitamin D assessment, thyroid function, etc.

Basic lab tests, screenings, and vaccinations available with a Walgreens physical generally range from $20 – $150 per item, depending on the specific type.

Insurance and Payment

The majority of major medical insurance plans cover annual physical exams as a fully paid preventive service. Walgreens provides transparent pricing and payment options.

Insurance Carriers Accepted

Walgreens healthcare clinics participate with most major insurers. Some covered include:

• Aetna
• Anthem BlueCross BlueShield
• Cigna
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare
• Medicare and Medicaid plans
• TRICARE
• Many more – check with your local clinic

Out-of-Pocket Costs and Uninsured Payments

• Foruninsured patients, Walgreens offers the retail cost upfront, which is typically$125-$155. Those who enroll in theWalgreens Cash Pricing Program for $20/year receive a20% discountoff services.
• Uninsured and underinsured individuals may also qualify for additionalsliding scale discounts of up to 40% off physical exam fees based on demonstrated financial need.
• Walgreens providesinterest-free payment plans to allow customers to break up costs into more affordable monthly payments.

Tips for Minimizing Expenses with Insurance

• Having awellness visit covered at no cost after deductible is met is an ACA benefit. Confirm preventive coverage with your provider.
• Using in-network providers brings down costs to any applicablecopays ($20-$50) or coinsurance (10-30%).
• Paying with pre-taxFSA or HSA funds can help offset out-of-pocket physical exam costs.

How to Book Your Appointment

You can either walk in for a physical exam or schedule ahead online depending on availability at your chosen clinic.

Booking a Walk-In Physical

• No appointment is necessary for walk-in physical exams. Simply check in at the clinic front desk.
• Wait times for walk-in physicals vary, typically30 minutes up to 1.5 hoursduring peak times. Plan accordingly.
• Weekday mornings and lunch hours generally have the shortest wait times for walk-ins.

Scheduling an Appointment in Advance

• You can conveniently pre-book physical exam appointmentsonlineor through theWalgreens appup to a week in advance at most locations.
• Select your preferred date/time and closest clinic location that works for your schedule.
• Enter insurance details upfront if applicable to estimate costs and start paperwork.
• Appointments are strongly recommended for fastest service with minimal wait times.

Walgreens Clinic Locations and Hours

• Walgreens conveniently operateshealth clinics at over 3,300 pharmacy locationsin 45 states across the US.
• Regular hours areMonday-Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm.
• Many clinics offerextended hours from 7am-11pm 7 days a week, with some select locationsopen 24/7.

What to Expect

Walgreens physicals provide a streamlined and efficient clinical experience in a comfortable retail setting.

Check-In Process and Intake

• Upon arriving for your physical, you will firstcheck in at the on-site kioskto confirm appointment details and enter insurance or payment.
• You will then complete ahealth history questionnaireon an electronic tablet.
• A medical assistant will take you back andrecord vital signslike temperature, blood pressure, pulse, weight, and height.

Physical Exam and Consultation

• Anurse practitioner or other licensed providerwill begin your physical exam, review health history details, ask additional questions, and make notes.
• They will perform a completehead-to-toe physical examination, listening to heart and lungs, checking reflexes, muscle tone, vision, and more.
• Time will be allotted todiscuss wellness, answer your questions, andreview any recommended screening or testing.

Check-Out and Follow-Up

• At checkout you canschedule follow-ups, pick upprescriptions, or pay anybalance due.
• Yourlab test results and clinical reportwill be available electronically within 48 hours in most cases.
• Prescriptions can be transmitted directly to your preferred Walgreens pharmacy location.

Walgreens Physical Exams vs Alternatives

Walgreens clinics offer advantages in cost, quality, and convenience compared to other physical exam options.

Vs. Primary Care Physicals

• More affordablethan physicals from private practice primary care doctors.
• More convenientwith broadly expanded hours, easy online booking, and typically shorter wait times.
• Faster service– Walgreens physicals take 30-60 minutes total versus 1-3 hours for some primary care visits.
• Broader preventive carelike immunizations, screenings, lab tests performed on-site.

Benefits of Walgreens Physical Exams

• Low fixed pricingcreates cost transparency and budgets savings versus primary care.
• Accessibilitywith over 3,300 Walgreens clinic locations across 45 states.
• Quick visitswith focused time on wellness exam components.
• Expanded preventive servicesavailable in addition to base physical exam.
• Flexible in-store hourswith walk-in and same-day appointments.

For a quality physical exam at exceptional value, Walgreens is an optimal choice.

Preventive Health and Wellness

Routine preventive physicals provide immense protective healthcare value.

Vital Role in Illness Prevention

• Physical exams allow early detection of hypertension, diabetes, cancers, heart disease, and other problems before they progress.
• They enable updated screening per recommended guidelines to catch issues early.
• Providers can identify health risks and work with you to mitigate them through lifestyle improvements.

Provides Baseline Wellness Data

• Physical exams establish baseline vitals like cholesterol levels and blood pressure to track changes over time.
• Objective wellness data helps motivate patients to make healthier choices.

Boosts Overall Physical and Mental Health

• In addition to assessing physical health, discussions focus on mental wellbeing, stress, relationships, sexual health, substance use, safety, and more.
• Patients gain peace of mind knowing they are in good health.

Ongoing Preventive Care Offered at Walgreens

Beyond one-time physicals, Walgreens provides continuous access to:

• Routine health screenings
• Vaccination
• Chronic disease monitoring
• Wellness and nutrition programs

Final Words

Walgreens healthcare clinics provide highly affordable and convenient access to essential annual physical exams ranging from $109-$159. They accept most major insurance plans to minimize out-of-pocket costs for patients. Visits are efficient and focused, while still allowing for needed preventive testing and immunization services.

Given rising costs within traditional healthcare, Walgreens provides welcome price transparency and savings for this vital annual wellness visit. Take control of your health and strongly consider Walgreens for your next physical exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will Walgreens hold my prescription?

Walgreens holds most new prescriptions for up to 10 days. After that time, they are voided and a new written prescription is required from your provider. Some controlled substances may only be held for 7 days before expiring.

Can someone else pick up my prescription at Walgreens?

Yes, you can authorize another person to pick up your prescription by calling the pharmacy ahead of time and providing their name. They will need to show valid photo ID when they arrive to collect the prescription on your behalf.

What happens if you don’t pick up a prescription?

If you do not pick up your prescription within the 7 to 10 days hold period, it will be voided and Walgreens will no longer be able to fill it. You would need to request a new prescription from your healthcare provider for any uncollected medications. Auto-refills and digital prescriptions may also be cancelled if repeatedly uncollected.