Richmond patients are spread from the West End and Short Pump out through Henrico, Chesterfield, and into the Tri-Cities, and the local walk-in market reflects that geography. Urgent care Richmond options include hospital-affiliated clinics (VCU Health, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia, including the Henrico Doctors’ brand), Virginia-based chains like Patient First and BetterMed, and national operators like MedExpress and AFC. The market is unusually competitive for a metro of this size, partly because Patient First – headquartered in Glen Allen – has its densest footprint here.
This guide explains which networks operate where, what visits typically cost, and how Richmond urgent care fits into broader healthcare cost transparency for Virginia patients. One caveat before you rely on any specific detail below: clinic hours, services offered, current wait times, and accepted insurance change frequently and vary by individual location. Treat everything here as a starting point and call ahead or check the clinic’s website to confirm before you drive over. This is general information, not medical advice.
When to choose urgent care vs ER vs your primary doctor
Urgent care is designed for same-day non-emergency issues: respiratory and ear infections, urinary tract infections, sprains, simple lacerations, mild asthma flares, rashes, and most flu, strep, and COVID-like illness. The Urgent Care Association notes that most urgent care visits are relatively brief, though actual wait times swing widely by clinic, day of week, and season – call ahead or use online check-in to gauge the current wait.
If your primary care doctor can fit you in within 24 to 48 hours, that is usually the cheaper, better-continuity option for non-urgent problems. Reserve the emergency room for emergencies.
When to seek emergency care: Call 911 or go to a Richmond-area ER (VCU Medical Center, Henrico Doctors’, Chippenham, Johnston-Willis, St. Mary’s, St. Francis, or Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU) for chest pain or pressure, signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty), severe shortness of breath, uncontrolled bleeding, head trauma with confusion, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), or thoughts of self-harm. When in doubt about whether something is an emergency, err toward 911 or the ER. For mental-health crises, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text.
Major urgent care chains and networks in Richmond
Patient First is the dominant Richmond walk-in operator and is headquartered in Glen Allen. It has numerous Richmond-area locations – across Short Pump, West Broad, Mechanicsville, Glen Allen, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Hull Street, and the Tri-Cities, among others – typically with on-site labs, imaging, and medication dispensing. Patient First has long advertised daily hours from morning until late evening, 365 days a year; confirm the exact hours for your nearest location, as they can change.
VCU Health operates walk-in clinics tied to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, primarily in central Richmond and around the academic campus.
Bon Secours Mercy Health runs walk-in care across Richmond, with locations connected to St. Mary’s, St. Francis, and Memorial Regional. Bon Secours is one of the major hospital networks in the metro.
HCA Virginia operates urgent care affiliated with Henrico Doctors’, Chippenham, Johnston-Willis, and Retreat Doctors’ hospitals.
MedExpress (a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary) has multiple Richmond-area clinics with consistent daytime-to-evening hours, typically 365 days a year – verify current times before visiting.
BetterMed Urgent Care is a Virginia/North Carolina-based chain with several Richmond locations.
AFC Urgent Care (American Family Care) has a small but growing Richmond footprint.
Concentra focuses on occupational health and workers’ compensation across the metro.
Because networks open, close, and relocate clinics over time, use each operator’s online location finder to confirm the site nearest you is still open and offers the service you need.
What urgent care typically costs in Richmond
The figures below are 2026 estimates that vary by clinic, services rendered, and your coverage – always ask for a specific self-pay quote before your visit. Self-pay rates in Richmond generally fall between about $150 and $230 for a basic visit, in line with the national mid-range context tracked by the Health Care Cost Institute. Patient First, MedExpress, AFC, and BetterMed have historically published transparent self-pay pricing on the lower end of that range; confirm the current number directly.
With commercial insurance, expect roughly a $50 to $100 copay for a straightforward visit. High-deductible plans may leave you paying the full contracted rate (commonly around $130 to $200) until the deductible is met. Virginia Medicaid – now delivered through Cardinal Care managed care plans such as Anthem HealthKeepers, Aetna Better Health, Sentara Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Molina Healthcare – is accepted at most major networks, but confirm your specific plan is in network first.
Common add-ons (all approximate): x-ray about $100 to $300, splint $30 to $100, suture repair $100 to $200, IV fluids $100 to $200, and rapid strep/flu/COVID testing $25 to $75. By contrast, a low-acuity ER visit at a Richmond hospital such as VCU, Henrico Doctors’, St. Mary’s, or Chippenham commonly bills somewhere in the $1,300 to $2,700 range before insurance – a reminder to match the setting to the severity.
Insurance plans typically accepted
The Richmond commercial market is dominated by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Sentara Health Plans (formerly Optima Health).
Patient First, VCU Health, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia, MedExpress, BetterMed, and AFC generally accept the major commercial plans plus Medicare and Virginia Medicaid managed care. Narrow ACA marketplace networks are the most common source of surprises, so always confirm your specific plan – including any narrow-network marketplace tier – is accepted at the clinic before your visit. A quick phone call can save you an out-of-network bill.
Hours, walk-in vs appointment, and online check-in
Patient First has long led on consistency, historically staying open from morning until late evening every day of the year, including major holidays; MedExpress typically runs daytime-to-evening hours 365 days. VCU Health, Bon Secours, and HCA Virginia walk-ins generally open in the morning and close in the evening on weekdays, often with reduced weekend hours. All of these are subject to change, so verify the current hours for your chosen location the same day you plan to go.
Online check-in or “save my spot” booking is standard at all the major chains and can meaningfully cut your in-clinic wait. Telehealth is also widely available for many minor issues – see our telehealth guide for help choosing between a video visit and in-person care.
What to bring to your visit
Bring a government-issued photo ID, your insurance card, a list of current medications and allergies, and a credit or HSA/FSA card. For an injury, bring any prior imaging or notes from your primary doctor. Parents bringing a child should bring the immunization record.
If you are paying out of pocket, ask about a self-pay or prompt-pay discount and get the quote before care is rendered. Many Richmond clinics offer a discount for cash payment at the time of service, but the amount varies – confirm it in advance rather than assuming.
Common conditions urgent care can vs cannot treat
Richmond walk-in clinics handle the routine acute caseload: respiratory and ear infections, sinusitis, strep, UTIs, pink eye, minor burns, sprains, simple fractures (often with an orthopedic referral), small lacerations needing sutures, mild allergic reactions, dehydration, and acute musculoskeletal pain. Most also do sports, school, and DOT physicals. If you are unsure whether your issue fits, call the clinic and describe it before heading in.
Out of scope for urgent care: chest pain, suspected stroke, major trauma, severe abdominal pain that may signal appendicitis, severe asthma unresponsive to a rescue inhaler, suspected sepsis, suicidal crises, and emergencies in newborns under 3 months. These require the ER or 911. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is the regional pediatric emergency department.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest urgent care in Richmond?
Self-pay rates are broadly similar across the major chains, commonly around $150 to $230 before add-ons. Patient First, MedExpress, AFC, and BetterMed have tended to publish transparent self-pay pricing on the lower end. Prices change, so ask each clinic for a current quote – and confirm whether x-rays, labs, or procedures are billed separately.
Is Patient First the same as urgent care?
Functionally, yes. Patient First is a walk-in primary and urgent care hybrid with on-site labs, imaging, and medication dispensing. It is in network with most major Virginia commercial plans and Medicare and is the largest walk-in operator in greater Richmond. Confirm your plan and the clinic’s current services before relying on it.
Does VCU Health have urgent care?
Yes. VCU Health operates walk-in clinics tied to the academic medical center. They are convenient if your primary care is already in the VCU Health system, though most commercial PPOs let you use any in-network walk-in. Verify hours and location before visiting.
Do Richmond urgent cares accept Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid)?
Most large networks (Patient First, VCU, Bon Secours, HCA, MedExpress, BetterMed) accept Virginia Medicaid managed care under Cardinal Care, but participation depends on your specific plan. Confirm your exact plan tier is in network before your visit.
Is urgent care cheaper than the ER in Richmond?
For the same low-acuity issue, significantly cheaper. A UTI or strep workup at urgent care commonly bills around $200 total, versus roughly $1,300 to $2,700 at a Richmond ER before insurance. Reserve the ER for true emergencies – and for a genuine emergency, cost should not delay you; call 911 or go.
The Bottom Line: Choosing the Right Urgent Care in Richmond
Richmond’s walk-in market is unusually competitive thanks to Patient First’s dense home-market footprint. VCU Health, Bon Secours, and HCA Virginia offer hospital-system integration; Patient First, MedExpress, BetterMed, and AFC offer transparent self-pay pricing and consistent hours. Pick the closest in-network clinic, use online check-in to trim your wait, and bring your ID and insurance card – but always call ahead to confirm current hours, services, wait times, and that your plan is accepted.
Reserve the ER for emergencies, lean on your primary care doctor for chronic and routine care, and use urgent care for the same-day in-between. If you travel across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, see our companion guides to urgent care in Virginia Beach, urgent care in Washington, DC, and urgent care in Raleigh-Durham for cross-region comparisons.
TL;DR & disclaimer: Richmond has a deep walk-in market led by Patient First, plus VCU Health, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia, MedExpress, BetterMed, and AFC. Self-pay visits typically run about $150-$230 before add-ons (2026 estimates – ask for a quote), far below a $1,300-$2,700+ ER bill for the same low-acuity issue. Hours, services, wait times, and accepted insurance vary and change often, so call ahead to confirm. This is general information, not medical advice. For emergencies – chest pain, stroke signs, severe bleeding, trouble breathing – call 911 or go to the ER; for a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.
Sources
- Urgent Care Association (urgentcareassociation.org)
- Health Care Cost Institute (healthcostinstitute.org)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org)
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services – Cardinal Care (dmas.virginia.gov)
- Clinic network websites – Patient First, VCU Health, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia, MedExpress, BetterMed, AFC (verify current hours, services, and pricing)