What RediClinic Is and Where to Find One

RediClinic is a walk-in urgent care provider owned and operated by CVS Health, located inside CVS Pharmacy stores across the United States. You do not need an appointment — you arrive, check in, and wait to be seen by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The clinics handle common illnesses and injuries: sore throats, ear infections, minor cuts, sprains, cold symptoms, and urinary tract infections.

RediClinic locations are in CVS stores in multiple states, though not every CVS has one. You can search for a nearby clinic on the CVS website or call your local CVS Pharmacy to ask whether they have a RediClinic inside. Hours vary by location but typically run into the evening and include weekend availability, which makes them useful when your primary care doctor's office is closed.

RediClinic is different from a full emergency room — it does not have imaging equipment like X-ray machines at every location, does not handle severe trauma, and cannot admit patients for overnight care. It sits between your regular doctor and the hospital emergency department.

Key Takeaways

  • RediClinic is a walk-in clinic inside CVS Pharmacy stores where you see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant without an appointment.
  • You can pay with insurance, a credit card, or cash, and costs are typically lower than an emergency room visit for the same condition.
  • Not every CVS has a RediClinic, so you need to search the CVS website or call ahead to confirm one is at your nearest store.
  • RediClinic handles common urgent care needs like sore throats and minor injuries but cannot perform surgery, advanced imaging, or admit patients.
  • Your visit usually takes 30 minutes to an hour from check-in to discharge, though wait times vary depending on how busy the clinic is.

What to Bring and How to Check In

Bring a photo ID and your insurance card if you have one. If you do not have insurance, you can still be seen — RediClinic accepts cash and credit card payment. Bring any medical records or a list of current medications if you have them, though the staff will ask you these questions during check-in if you do not.

When you arrive, you check in at the front desk inside the clinic area. The staff will ask you to fill out a brief health history form with questions about your symptoms, any allergies, and current medications. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. After that, you wait in the waiting area until a nurse or medical assistant calls you back for vital signs — blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate.

If you are a new patient to that specific RediClinic location, the check-in process takes a bit longer because the staff is building your record in their system. Returning patients check in faster because your information is already on file.

What Happens During Your Visit

After vitals, you see the nurse practitioner or physician assistant in an exam room. They will ask detailed questions about your symptoms, when they started, and what you have already tried. They may examine you — looking in your throat, listening to your lungs, checking your ears — depending on what brought you in.

Some conditions require a test. RediClinic can do rapid strep tests for sore throats, flu tests, urinalysis for urinary tract infections, and basic blood work at many locations. Not all locations have the same equipment, so if you need something specific, call ahead to confirm the clinic can do it. Test results for rapid tests come back within minutes; blood work results may take longer and the clinic will contact you.

Based on what they find, the provider may prescribe medication, recommend over-the-counter treatments, or refer you to your primary care doctor or an emergency room if something more serious is suspected. They will give you written instructions about what to do next and when to follow up.

Cost and Insurance

RediClinic accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid in many states, though coverage varies by plan and location. If you have insurance, bring your card and you will pay your copay or coinsurance at check-in, just as you would at any doctor's office. The clinic will bill your insurance for the rest.

If you do not have insurance, RediClinic posts its cash prices on the CVS website and at the clinic itself. A basic visit typically costs between $100 and $200 depending on what is done — a straightforward exam costs less than one that includes lab tests. Prescription medications are filled at the CVS Pharmacy in the same store, and you pay the pharmacy's price for those separately.

Some employers and health plans offer discounts at RediClinic, so check your plan documents or call your insurance company to see whether you may have access to. CVS also runs occasional promotions for uninsured patients, advertised in-store and online.

When RediClinic Is the Right Choice

RediClinic works well for conditions that need attention but are not emergencies: a sore throat that might be strep, a minor sprain, a rash, or cold symptoms that are not improving. It is faster than waiting for an appointment with your primary care doctor and cheaper than an emergency room for the same visit.

RediClinic is not the right choice if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke, or any injury that might need X-rays or advanced imaging. Those situations require an emergency room. If you are unsure whether your condition is urgent enough for the ER or can wait for your regular doctor, call your doctor's office or a nurse hotline — many insurance plans offer a free nurse line you can call 24/7 for information.

How to Find Your Nearest RediClinic and Check Hours

Go to the CVS website and use the store locator tool. Search for your address or zip code, then filter results to show only stores with a RediClinic. The listing will show the clinic's hours, which may differ from the pharmacy's hours. Many RediClinic locations are open until 8 or 9 p.m. on weekdays and have weekend hours, but this varies.

You can also call the CVS Pharmacy directly and ask whether they have a RediClinic and what the hours are. If the nearest location is far away or has a long wait, you can ask the staff whether they recommend another nearby clinic or whether you should go to an urgent care center or emergency room instead.

What Happens After Your Visit

Before you leave, the provider or nurse will give you written discharge instructions that explain your diagnosis, any medications prescribed, and what to do if your symptoms do not improve or get worse. Keep these instructions — they are useful if you need to follow up with your regular doctor.

If the clinic prescribed medication, you can fill it at the CVS Pharmacy in the same building. The pharmacy staff will explain how to take it and what side effects to watch for. If you have questions after you leave, you can call the RediClinic back — the phone number is on your discharge paperwork.

RediClinic does not automatically send records to your primary care doctor, so if you want your regular doctor to know what happened, you may need to request that the clinic send your visit summary. Ask the staff before you leave whether they can do this, or call back later to request it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an appointment at RediClinic?

No. RediClinic is walk-in only — you do not make appointments. You arrive during operating hours, check in, and wait to be seen. Wait times depend on how busy the clinic is, but you can call ahead to ask how long the wait is before you go.

Can RediClinic treat my child?

Yes, most RediClinic locations treat children, though some have age restrictions for very young infants. Call the specific location to confirm they see children and what the age policy is. Bring a parent or guardian and the child's insurance card or payment method.

What if I need a prescription refilled?

RediClinic can refill prescriptions that were written by a provider at that clinic or by your primary care doctor if the prescription is still valid. Bring your prescription bottle or the name of the medication and your pharmacy. The provider will review it and send the refill to the CVS Pharmacy in the store.

Will RediClinic send my records to my regular doctor?

Not automatically. You need to request it. Ask the staff at check-out or call the clinic later with your doctor's name and contact information. The clinic can fax or electronically send your visit summary to your doctor's office.

What if I do not have insurance?

You can still be seen at RediClinic. You will pay cash at check-in, and the clinic will give you an itemized receipt. Ask about the cost before you are seen if you want to know the price upfront. Prescriptions are filled at the CVS Pharmacy and paid separately.