Having health insurance is not just good for your health, but also your wallet. The costs of services, treatments and basic medical tests for ordinary conditions or unexpected but common accidents can be startling.
If you have health coverage, your insurer will likely cover most of the cost, if not all of it. 
But if you don’t have insurance and have the ability to pay for it, these surprise bills can drain your wallet.
Below are some example estimates of how much it would cost to treat some conditions you might experience, either once or multiple times. (We did not include the cost of any surgeries that might be associated with some of these conditions)
FLU: $290
The vaccine that can prevent—or alleviate—the flu would cost $37.99 per person ($151.96 for a family of four). If you catch it, a doctor’s visit would cost $150. If they decide to perform a test to confirm the diagnosis, that would amount to around $20. Currently, there is no generic version of Tamiflu, the drug that treats the flu. Without insurance, it would cost over $100 for 10 days of treatment. This doesn’t include the cost of any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs you would need, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
STREP THROAT: $300
Strep throat is a common bacterial throat infection that affects millions of children and adults each year. The average cost of a throat swab to diagnose it is $50, and a doctor’s visit, around $150. Amoxicillin, the most common antibiotic used to treat this condition, costs $50 on average.
CHLAMYDIA: $390
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, and it’s on the rise: 1.7 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2017, a 22% increase from 2013. The average cost of a doctor’s visit without coverage is $150. Depending on the provider, the diagnostic test will total between $50 and $250. The antibiotic that is typically used to treat chlamydia is azithromycin; without insurance, it costs around $40.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION: $290 to $700
This is one of the most common infections, affecting women in particular: around 3 million cases are diagnosed each year. If the pain is so bad you need to visit the emergency room, the cost can range from $500 to $700 just for the visit. If you visit a doctor’s office, that would cost around $150. The urine test to confirm the diagnosis is priced at $40, and the antibiotic to treat the urinary tract infection can vary from $50 to $100.
SCIATICA: $300 to $1,150
Over 3 million cases are diagnosed each year of this terrible pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, radiating from the lower back to one of the legs. In addition to the doctor’s visit, which will cost around $150, physical therapy is generally recommended for sciatica; these sessions can cost $200. If over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are enough to relieve the pain, that will be another $20. In extreme cases that require an epidural steroid injection, this number can climb to $800.
KNEE INJURY: $1,315
Knee injuries, whether to ligaments or cartilage, are very common, as they involve a joint that is in constant motion. A doctor’s visit will start at around $150, and depending on the severity of the injury, you will likely need pain medications—over-the-counter ones will cost around $15—and rehabilitation therapy, which can range from $150 to $200 per session (for a minimum of five sessions). The doctor will probably order an x-ray to confirm the injury, which will add another $150 to the total cost.
SEASONAL ALLERGIES: $2,025
Depending on the test and number of allergens tested, this can cost between $200 and $1,000. A doctor’s visit will be $150. Administering medications by injection for one season can range from $800 to $1,000. If the allergies can be treated with over-the-counter drugs, these can cost between $15 and $25. EpiPen, an injection that contains epinephrine and will stop an allergic reaction, costs $500 for two doses. In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a generic version of EpiPen that is more affordable.
Sources: Consumer Reports, NIH, BCBS, KFF, Mayo Clinic, GW University
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