MGH Chelsea Urgent Care - Chelsea, Massachusetts

wilker B.

Horrible Billing Practices – Proceed with Extreme Caution

I debated whether or not to write this, but after my experience at MGH Chelsea Urgent Care (151 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA) in June 2024, I feel compelled to warn others.

I had tested positive for COVID at home and was experiencing symptoms. Before going in, I called and spoke with both my insurance (United Healthcare) and someone at the location. I was assured multiple times that my out-of-pocket cost would be a $75 copay—nothing more. When I arrived, I confirmed this again, handed over my insurance card, and was told I was all set.

I explained clearly to the provider that I already tested positive—twice—for COVID. Despite that, they proceeded with another COVID test, a flu test, blood work, and even a chest X-ray. I questioned whether all of this was necessary and voiced my concerns at the time.

A few days later, I received a bill for $3,875. Shocked, I immediately called MGH billing, only to be told they hadn’t even submitted the bill to my insurance yet. I thought the issue would be resolved after that. Instead, within a week, I received a new bill—this time for $3,075. I asked repeatedly for an itemized breakdown and a quote for what these services would have cost without insurance. No one followed up. I was bounced between departments, eventually told to call the urgent care directly—only to find out it's not a true urgent care but an outpatient clinic. That distinction apparently made all the difference with insurance.

To make matters worse, the resubmitted claim to insurance totaled $5,200—again, for what should have been a simple COVID verification.

The service itself was friendly, but the amount of unnecessary testing felt excessive and, frankly, exploitative. I’ve spent countless hours fighting this through my insurance provider, and no one seems willing to take responsibility or help resolve the issue.

I will never return to this location and strongly advise others to avoid MGH Chelsea Urgent Care at all costs. I’ll be sticking with AFC Urgent Care moving forward—this would have never happened there. Proceed with caution.

Alana A.

Came in for rib pain on a weekend and was roomed, had x-rays done, and results given all within 30 minutes. Everyone I encountered was professional, friendly, and super efficient. Definitely the best UC experience i’ve had in the Boston area.

Bailey K.

Very quick, professional, and gave me a lot of piece of mind. Not sure why there are so many low reviews, but I really appreciated my nurse and Dr. Powis! I had multiple concerns that aren’t typically suited for an urgent care environment, and they helped me and had lots of compassion. I was kindly educated on where to go next time and was given great care. Thank you!

Philip M.

It's not urgent care. They code your bill as "outpatient hospital" not as "urgent care", meaning your insurance won't cover as much and you will pay a much higher bill (10x higher in our case). When I complained and said they were lying about being urgent care, they responded by saying they are in fact urgent care, and that they are certified by the Urgent Care Association. This also turned out to be a lie. When I filed a complaint against them with the Urgent Care Association, the Urgent Care Association wrote this in a follow up email: "MGH Chelsea Urgent Care Clinic is not Accredited or Certified with the Urgent Care Association, and we are unable to follow up with the organization or provide the opportunity to file a Patient Safety Concern form."

Jackie C.

10/10 this urgent care is great. i’ve never had an issue with waiting a long time here. they do get busy at certain times but that should be expected. i’ve never dealt with any healthcare workers who have been anything less than nice and personable there too.

Patrice C.

I have been coming to mgh urgent care for the last 10years and have received the best care possible, from the girls who work at reception, the nurses and especially Dr. Brent Ragar if it wasn’t for him encouraging me to be tested for Covid I never would have known I was positive. He prescribed me PAXLOVID and im starting to feel better.
Thank you all for the utmost, professional care you have given me.
Patrice

Abigail B.

Dr. Mallika Joy Marshall and her team of nurses were so kind and wonderful to work with. I felt heard, understood, and cared for with empathy, patience, and true professionalism from everyone. I waited essentially nothing to be seen and the experience was quick, easy, and just as I would hope! Thank you for your wonderful care!

Daniela L.

My husband visited this urgent care by my recommendation this week with flu symptoms and a nagging cough and was prescribed antibiotics and a skin rash medicine for a skin infection he didn’t have (confirmed by an ER MGH boston doctor). I find this absolutely unprofessional being prescribed an antibiotic before his Flu results came back and it was only the second day of his symptoms, he called back and was told sorry we cannot give you anti viral medicine for the flu , keep taking the antibiotic that he didn’t need .
He could have gotten an anti viral medicine and would have got better by now but 6 days later an he is still sick with high fevers and a rash 3 times worse, not wonder why we have antibiotic resistance issues everywhere. We would never come back or recommend this place to anyone, awful experience.