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South Carolina

Cost of a General Doctor (Adult) Visit
in South Carolina

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

South Carolina ranks second nationally for General Doctor (Adult) visit affordability, with negotiated rates averaging approximately 1% below national benchmarks. Patients typically pay between $73 and $163, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $80 across the state's 109 active General Doctor (Adult) providers. From Charleston's established medical districts to the rural counties of the Lowcountry, patients can browse all providers in South Carolina to find quality care within their budget.

Average

$105

Median

$80

Lowest

$73

Highest

$163

Providers

109

National avg: $132South Carolina: $105

20% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does internal medicine visit compare to related procedures in South Carolina?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Family Medicine Visit

Standard office visit with a family medicine physician

99214$68$80$216107

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 99214Office/outpatient visit, established patient, moderate complexity). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 99214 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 99214 (Office/outpatient visit, established patient, moderate complexity), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 99214 covers: the provider's professional fee for internal medicine visit. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Top Rated Internists in South Carolina

Why General Doctor (Adult) Visit Costs Vary Across South Carolina

South Carolina's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, benefiting from lower facility overhead costs and moderate physician compensation compared to northeastern markets. The state's mix of growing metropolitan areas and persistent rural counties creates significant geographic variation in both access and pricing for specialty care.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville concentrate most of the state's General Doctor (Adult) specialists, while rural counties in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions face provider shortages that can drive up costs and extend wait times. Patients in rural areas often travel 30-60 minutes for specialist care, with some choosing telehealth consultations to reduce travel costs and time.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-owned outpatient clinics affiliated with major systems like Prisma Health, MUSC, and Bon Secours typically charge facility fees that increase total visit costs compared to independent practices. Independent internists in South Carolina often offer more competitive cash-pay rates and flexible payment options, particularly in smaller cities where overhead costs remain manageable.

Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina

The state's insurance market is moderately competitive with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina holding the largest market share, followed by UnitedHealthcare and Aetna offering alternative network options. Limited insurer competition in rural counties can result in fewer in-network choices and higher patient cost-sharing, while urban areas benefit from broader provider networks and competitive negotiated rates.

Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina

With 109 active General Doctor (Adult) providers serving a population of over 5 million, South Carolina faces a moderate specialist shortage that particularly affects rural and underserved areas. This supply constraint can drive up pricing in high-demand markets like Charleston and Greenville, while also extending appointment wait times during peak seasons when coastal populations swell with seasonal residents.

Cost by Procedure Type

Internal Medicine Visit can be billed under different CPT codes depending on what's done during the procedure in South Carolina.

CPT 99213115 providers

Follow-up, low complexity

$80
Range: $47$115
CPT 99214109 providers

Follow-up, moderate complexity

$80
Range: $73$163
CPT 99215106 providers

Follow-up, high complexity

$103
Range: $80$255
CPT 99203108 providers

New patient, low complexity

$88
Range: $71$177
CPT 99204111 providers

New patient, moderate complexity

$91
Range: $80$251
CPT 99205105 providers

New patient, high complexity

$153
Range: $80$326

Costs shown are median negotiated rates. Your actual cost depends on your insurance plan and provider.

JP

Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — General Doctor (Adult) Costs in South Carolina

What is the average cost of a General Doctor (Adult) visit in South Carolina without insurance?

Without insurance, General Doctor (Adult) visits in South Carolina range from $73 to $163, with a median cost of $80 for established patients and higher rates for new patient visits. Many providers offer cash-pay discounts of 20-40%, and some independent practices provide payment plans to help make care more affordable for uninsured patients.

Does South Carolina Medicaid cover General Doctor (Adult) visits?

South Carolina Medicaid covers General Doctor (Adult) visits for eligible recipients when medically necessary, typically requiring prior authorization or referral from a primary care provider. However, South Carolina did not expand Medicaid, so coverage is limited to pregnant women, children, elderly, and disabled individuals, leaving many low-income adults without coverage options.

How do I find an affordable General Doctor (Adult) near me in South Carolina?

Compare costs across multiple providers using transparency tools, ask about cash-pay discounts at independent practices, and consider Federally Qualified Health Centers which offer sliding-fee scales based on income. Telehealth consultations can also reduce costs by eliminating facility fees, and some providers offer same-day payment discounts for immediate settlement.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

New patient visits typically cost more, ranging from $70-$177 for low complexity to $80-$326 for high complexity cases, while established patient follow-ups range from $47-$115 for routine visits to $80-$255 for complex management. The cost difference reflects the additional time and documentation required for initial evaluations, medical history review, and treatment planning.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a General Doctor (Adult) visit in South Carolina?

Yes, both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can be used to pay for General Doctor (Adult) visits as they qualify as eligible medical expenses under IRS guidelines. This includes copays, deductibles, and full payment for visits, making these tax-advantaged accounts valuable for managing specialty care costs.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a General Doctor (Adult) in South Carolina?

Telemedicine visits typically cost 15-30% less than in-person consultations as they eliminate facility fees and reduce provider overhead costs. South Carolina allows telemedicine for internal medicine consultations, follow-up visits, and medication management, though initial visits and physical examinations may still require in-person appointments depending on your condition and provider preferences.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$84
$236

Office visit (CPT 99214)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Nebraska
Range: $80$314
$236
2New Hampshire
Range: $113$282
$205
3Maine
Range: $85$255
$197
4Wyoming
Range: $98$303
$177
5Iowa
Range: $80$274
$165
6Wisconsin
Range: $73$315
$162
7Minnesota
Range: $73$313
$159
8Vermont
Range: $73$243
$158
9New Mexico
Range: $80$234
$157
10South Dakota
Range: $80$293
$154
11Illinois
Range: $73$226
$151
12District of Columbia
Range: $59$242
$148
13Delaware
Range: $80$200
$141
14Massachusetts
Range: $80$255
$140
15California
Range: $80$250
$138
16New York
Range: $73$200
$135
17Washington
Range: $80$242
$134
18Michigan
Range: $66$236
$130
19Hawaii
Range: $70$228
$128
20Georgia
Range: $74$202
$127
21Connecticut
Range: $80$202
$125
22Arkansas
Range: $72$175
$125
23Indiana
Range: $74$209
$125
24Louisiana
Range: $70$202
$124
25Colorado
Range: $80$203
$124
26West Virginia
Range: $80$159
$124
27Oregon
Range: $80$206
$124
28Ohio
Range: $70$201
$124
29Rhode Island
Range: $80$200
$123
30Pennsylvania
Range: $74$202
$122
31Kentucky
Range: $80$201
$122
32Utah
Range: $75$204
$121
33North Dakota
Range: $80$188
$120
34North Carolina
Range: $73$200
$119
35Florida
Range: $55$207
$117
36Tennessee
Range: $73$173
$115
37Missouri
Range: $72$146
$115
38Maryland
Range: $49$202
$112
39Nevada
Range: $48$202
$112
40Kansas
Range: $72$151
$111
41Arizona
Range: $65$179
$111
42South Carolina
Range: $73$163
$105
43Oklahoma
Range: $72$158
$105
44New Jersey
Range: $53$193
$103
45Alabama
Range: $64$160
$101
46Mississippi
Range: $64$150
$101
47Idaho
Range: $75$125
$93
48Montana
Range: $80$102
$87
49Alaska
Range: $80$91
$84
Internal Medicine Visit in Other States