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How much should you charge for a medical consultation?

A consultation price has to cover your costs and leave a margin. The most used formula in the US is cost per slot plus margin. This calculator shows in 30 seconds your floor price (break-even), your recommended price with your margin, and the resulting monthly revenue, so you can compare it with your specialty's market range.

Updated September 2026 Free tool By Veluni Health
Consultation pricing calculator
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Not sure about your fill rate? Use 70%: it is the most common range. The minimum healthy margin is 30%.

How to price a medical consultation

There are three methods, and the best doctors use all three together. The cost method is the floor: you divide your monthly fixed costs by the slots actually filled and add your margin. That is the formula this calculator uses. The market method is the anchor: you look at what your specialty charges in your city and position yourself within that range (Zocdoc, The Pricer). The value method is the differentiator: reputation, experience and location let you charge above the average.

The cost formula behind the calculator is the one management consultancies use: cost per slot = monthly fixed costs / (slots per day x days x fill rate). The floor price is that cost; the recommended price is the cost plus your margin. A margin below 30% means the doctor is paying to work.

What a medical consultation costs in the US (2026)

Prices vary by specialty and city. The ranges below are what a self-pay patient pays out of pocket for a visit in 2026 (The Pricer, Mira, Zocdoc):

SpecialtyCash price (USD)Typical copay
General practice, new patient100-300 (avg 155)$27
General practice, follow-up75-150 (avg 96)$27
Pediatrics, new patient150-400 (avg 247)$27
Cardiology165-378 (avg 250)$45
Dermatology150-450 (avg 268)$45
Psychiatry200-500 (avg 350)$45

In major metro areas the top of each range is common; in rural areas the bottom. Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount and the patient covers the rest, so a Medicare visit earns far less than a cash visit (KFF 2025, CMS).

Cash vs insurance

Insurance pays far less than the sticker price. In 2025 the average copay was $27 for a primary care visit and $45 for a specialist (KFF). Many practices collect only 30-60% of what they bill, because negotiated rates and denials cut the rest. A self-pay patient, by contrast, pays the full cash price and the practice keeps 100% of it.

That is why many doctors keep insurance to fill the schedule and self-pay to generate margin. A follow-up usually runs 60-70% of the first visit, and telehealth visits can be up to 50% cheaper.

Common pricing mistakes

How online booking helps

The variable that makes the cost-per-slot math work is the fill rate. The fuller the schedule, the lower the cost per slot and the higher the margin. 24/7 online booking fills the slots that would stay empty (patients book at night and on the weekend), and rescheduling by email reduces last-minute gaps. The dashboard shows revenue per doctor, so you can track price and occupancy for real.

Revise the price once a year

Revising the price annually is not a price hike, it is maintaining purchasing power. Practice cost inflation ran at 11.1% in 2025 (MGMA), and rent, staff and malpractice costs keep climbing. If the price stays flat, the margin shrinks. Adjust with 30 to 60 days of notice to the patient.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the price of a medical consultation?

Divide your monthly fixed costs by the slots actually filled (slots per day x days x fill rate). That value is your floor price. Add your margin (at least 30%) to get the recommended price. Then compare it with your specialty's market range (Zocdoc, The Pricer).

What does a medical consultation cost in the US in 2026?

Cash, $100 to $500, depending on specialty and city. Primary care new patient: $100 to $300 (avg about $155). Specialists: $165 to $500. Insurance copays run $27 for primary care and $45 for a specialist (KFF, The Pricer, 2025-2026).

What is a healthy profit margin for a consultation?

The healthy minimum is 30%; the ideal sits between 30% and 50%. Below 30%, the doctor is paying to work.

Does this calculator use my data?

No. The calculation runs in your browser, nothing is sent to a server and no data is stored.

Sources

  1. KFF, "What's the difference between a copay, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum?" (2025), average copays $27 primary care / $45 specialist.
  2. The Pricer (MDsave), "Average physician visit cost" (2025), cash price ranges by specialty.
  3. Mira, "How much does a doctor's visit cost?" (2026), self-pay ranges.
  4. Zocdoc, "How much does a doctor visit cost?" (2026), cash price ranges by specialty and city.
  5. MGMA, "2025 physician compensation and practice survey", cost inflation +11.1%.
  6. CMS, "Medicare Part B: 80/20 cost sharing", Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount.

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