Why Virtual Urgent Care Saves Time and Money — And What That Means for Employers

Urgent care has become a go-to resource for non-emergency medical needs — but how that care is delivered can make a big difference in both cost and experience.

A recent study by the National Library of Medicine compared virtual urgent care (VUC) with traditional, in-person urgent care (UC) visits. The results? Virtual care came out ahead in ways that matter to employees and employers.

The Key Stats: Virtual Wins on Time and Cost

• Visit Duration
  • In-person UC: 70.89 minutes
  • Virtual UC: 9.38 minutes
    ➜ Over an hour saved per visit
• Visit Cost
  • In-person UC: $142.66
  • Virtual UC: $49.00
    ➜ Nearly 3X less expensive

These differences weren’t minor — they were statistically significant, meaning the advantages of virtual care are consistent and real.

Why It Matters for Employers

Time and money savings aren’t just benefits for employees. For organizations offering virtual urgent care as part of their benefits strategy, the return on investment is tangible:

• Fewer ER and UC visits — reducing claim costs
• Increased access to care — especially for employees with limited time or transportation.
• Higher satisfaction — employees love fast, on-demand care from their phone

In fact, virtual urgent care is one of the most highly utilized benefit offerings when it’s easy to access, free to use, and includes after-hours availability.

• Virtual Primary Care 
• Virtual Mental Health 
• Virtual Wellness Specialist Care 
• Virtual Urgent Care