How Much Are Allergy Shots for Cats? 3-Year and 5-Year Total Cost
Allergy shots for HUMANS with cat allergy cost $3,120–$12,500 over 5 years depending on insurance — not veterinary products. Medicare-allowed CPT 95117 is $11.97/visit (CY 2025 PFS, FR Doc 2024-25382); 3-year SCIT minimum OOP is $3,120 per Stachler AAOA 2020. Cat-hair is the ONLY FDA-standardized mammalian allergen. Curex's at-home allergy shots offer pricing confirmed in a current program quote, with no clinic visits.
Plus the commute, copays, and facility fees that swing with your plan and state.
Commercial terms dated 2026-10-12; consultations included without copay. Total care quote required. Confirm additional charges, testing, initiation, supplies and cancellation terms. Plan rates and terms
The real CPT codes — what your allergist actually charges.
No competitor shows you this. Every shot visit triggers 1–3 CPT codes. Knowing them lets you audit your bill, negotiate cash pay, and verify what insurance covers.
| CPT code | What it covers | Cash pay | Insured copay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95117 | 2+ allergen injection — per-visit workhorse code; 3-year total: 67 visits (39 + 14 + 14); 5-year total: 95 visits (39 + 14 × 4); 2025 Medicare allowed $11.97/visit 2025 Medicare allowed $11.97 (CY 2025 PFS Final Rule, FR Doc 2024-25382). 3-year Medicare-allowed total for 67 visits: $801.99. 5-year total for 95 visits: $1,137.15. Commercial allowed: BCBS $16.69, Aetna $15.98, UHC $15.10, Cigna $18.05 (PayerPrice national averages, April 2026). | Cash pay $40–$200 | Insured $5–$40 |
| 95165 | Multi-dose vial preparation, per 1-cc dose — billed per 1-cc aliquot per CMS Article A57472; 10 doses per 10-cc vial; replaced every 6–12 months; 3-year total: approximately 4 vial replacements = 40 doses; 5-year total: approximately 6 vials = 60 doses 2025 Medicare allowed $13.91/dose. 3-year 95165 Medicare-allowed: 40 doses × $13.91 = $556.40. 5-year: 60 doses × $13.91 = $834.60. Cat-hair and cat-pelt are FDA-standardized at 10,000 BAU/mL (Greer license #308) — only mammalian allergens with FDA standardization; higher lot-to-lot consistency than PNU-based dog extracts. California Medi-Cal excludes 95145–95165 as non-benefits per DHCS Medi-Cal Allergy Manual Part 2. | Cash pay $200–$450 | Insured $5–$25 |
| 95115 | Single allergen injection — used when patient receives only one vial per visit; occasionally appropriate for cat-monosensitized patients 2025 Medicare allowed $10.35. If used exclusively over 5 years, 5-year Medicare-allowed total drops to 95 × $10.35 = $983.25 vs 95 × $11.97 = $1,137.15 for 95117. | Cash pay $18–$35 | Insured $3–$15 |
| 95004 | Percutaneous (skin prick) test, per allergen — typically billed once at SCIT initiation; a standard 40-allergen panel generates 40 billable units at $3.56 Medicare-allowed each = $142.40 total 2025 Medicare allowed $3.56/allergen. HOPD worst case (5-year context): Janet Winston's single 3-day patch-testing event at Stanford Health Care billed $48,329 — out-of-pocket $3,103 (KFF Health News/NPR Bill of the Month, 2018). That one testing episode exceeded the Stachler 2020 minimum 3-year SCIT out-of-pocket projection of $3,120. | Cash pay $20–$40 | Insured $3–$10 |
| 95144 | Single-dose vial preparation, non-venom — rarely used in routine cat SCIT; 95165 multi-dose vial is operationally preferred 2025 Medicare allowed $15.85. CY 2026 PFS Final Rule (FR Doc 2025-19787, CMS-1832-F): venom codes 95145–95149 flagged as potentially misvalued; 95144 is not under review. | Cash pay $20–$45 | Insured $5–$15 |
Ranges reflect median commercial allowed amounts (CMS Physician Fee Schedule, MGMA Cost Survey). Your actual amount depends on your plan's in-network rates and deductible status.
Compare clinic bills with a current Curex shot quote.
No 95115, 95117, or 95165 line items to reconcile. One membership covers your serum, dosing, and allergist oversight.
How Curex worksThe real cost in two phases — most articles miss the spike.
Allergy shots split into a costly build-up (6–12 months of frequent visits) and a cheaper maintenance phase. Lumping them gives misleading 'per-month' figures.
Confirm the price for build-up and maintenance.
Conventional shots can cost more during build-up. Confirm your Curex program price and billing cadence before enrolling.
How Curex worksThe hidden costs disappear when you dose at home.
No commute, no missed work, no parking — your weekly injection takes minutes in your own kitchen.
How Curex worksCoverage by major plan — searchable, with copays.
Most articles say 'it depends on your plan.' We list the actual coverage policy for each major carrier.
Confirm coverage for testing and consultations.
Treatment is self-pay. Insurance is accepted for testing and consultations; confirm coverage and patient responsibility.
How Curex worksAllergy shot cost by US state — searchable, sortable.
Cost-of-living and local provider density both shift the price. We pulled medians from CMS/MGMA + commercial payer data.
New York NY | $140 | $2,300 | 141 |
|---|---|---|---|
Alaska AK | $128 | $2,200 | 130 |
District of Columbia DC | $128 | $2,100 | 138 |
Hawaii HI | $120 | $1,950 | 125 |
Massachusetts MA | $118 | $1,950 | 131 |
California CA | $115 | $1,900 | 141 |
Connecticut CT | $113 | $1,850 | 120 |
New Jersey NJ | $110 | $1,800 | 117 |
Maryland MD | $103 | $1,700 | 118 |
Washington WA | $100 | $1,650 | 112 |
Colorado CO | $98 | $1,600 | 109 |
Florida FL | $98 | $1,600 | 104 |
Minnesota MN | $98 | $1,600 | 108 |
Oregon OR | $98 | $1,600 | 110 |
Rhode Island RI | $98 | $1,600 | 112 |
Virginia VA | $98 | $1,600 | 108 |
Illinois IL | $95 | $1,550 | 108 |
Pennsylvania PA | $93 | $1,525 | 105 |
Delaware DE | $93 | $1,500 | 106 |
Arizona AZ | $83 | $1,450 | 103 |
Georgia GA | $90 | $1,450 | 97 |
New Hampshire NH | $88 | $1,450 | 106 |
Texas TX | $88 | $1,450 | 99 |
North Carolina NC | $88 | $1,425 | 98 |
Maine ME | $83 | $1,400 | 101 |
Nevada NV | $85 | $1,375 | 100 |
South Carolina SC | $84 | $1,375 | 96 |
Tennessee TN | $84 | $1,375 | 95 |
Louisiana LA | $84 | $1,350 | 95 |
Ohio OH | $83 | $1,350 | 96 |
Vermont VT | $83 | $1,350 | 100 |
Wisconsin WI | $83 | $1,350 | 96 |
Utah UT | $81 | $1,325 | 97 |
Alabama AL | $76 | $1,300 | 88 |
Idaho ID | $78 | $1,300 | 95 |
Kentucky KY | $80 | $1,300 | 92 |
Michigan MI | $80 | $1,300 | 95 |
Missouri MO | $79 | $1,300 | 92 |
Nebraska NE | $80 | $1,300 | 93 |
North Dakota ND | $79 | $1,300 | 93 |
South Dakota SD | $80 | $1,300 | 93 |
New Mexico NM | $78 | $1,275 | 96 |
Arkansas AR | $73 | $1,250 | 90 |
Indiana IN | $79 | $1,250 | 93 |
Montana MT | $74 | $1,225 | 96 |
Wyoming WY | $74 | $1,225 | 96 |
Iowa IA | $73 | $1,200 | 91 |
Kansas KS | $73 | $1,200 | 89 |
Oklahoma OK | $73 | $1,200 | 89 |
Mississippi MS | $69 | $1,150 | 84 |
West Virginia WV | $68 | $1,125 | 86 |
Compare costs where you receive care.
Clinic costs vary by location and facility. Curex lists a SCIT plan rate separately from total care costs; compare clinic costs with a written quote covering eligibility, initiation and additional charges.
How Curex worksWhat patients actually paid — de-identified EOBs.
Every other article quotes ranges. We show you the real explanation-of-benefits documents — what was billed, what insurance paid, what the patient owed.
EOB image redacted
Patch testing for 119 allergens over three days at Stanford Health Care in 2018, in-network for Anthem Blue Cross. Billed $48,329; Anthem-allowed roughly $11,000; Janet Winston owed $3,103 out of pocket (KFF Health News/NPR Bill of the Month, 'That's a Lot of Scratch: The $48,329 Allergy Test,' 2018). Per KFF/NPR, the standard San Francisco Bay Area charge for testing a single allergen was approximately $35 — Stanford's per-allergen charge was approximately 10× the market benchmark. That single 3-day testing event nearly matched the Stachler 2020 minimum 3-year SCIT out-of-pocket projection of $3,120. Real case: Janet Winston, Stanford Health Care, Anthem Blue Cross PPO California, 2018.
- Billed by provider
- $48,329
- Paid by insurance
- $7,897
- Patient owed
- $3,103
EOB image redacted
40-allergen skin-test panel at a hospital-owned allergy clinic in Minneapolis, 2024. HOPD facility fee drove the total bill to $24,400 — while nearby freestanding clinics quoted $800–$1,827 for the same panel. Kaitlin Johnson owed $5,400+ before M Health Fairview waived the balance after eight months of advocacy and PBS NewsHour Weekend coverage ('Why patients are getting hit with surprise hospital fees for routine medical care,' 2024). In lifetime-cost terms, a single HOPD testing visit consumed more than the AAOA Stachler 2020 3-year SCIT minimum OOP projection of $3,120. Real case: Kaitlin Johnson, M Health Fairview, Minneapolis, 2024.
- Billed by provider
- $24,400
- Paid by insurance
- $19,000
- Patient owed
- $5,400
EOB image redacted
Maintenance injection at a Kaiser Permanente medical office in California, 2024. Per the Caltech 2024 Kaiser Southern California Plan Chart (September 2023): 'Allergy injections no charge.' $0 cost-share per visit, $0 for the full 5-year SCIT course at non-HOPD Kaiser sites for enrolled members. No traditional EOB is issued. This is the lifetime cost ground floor — and direct evidence that the same Risant/Kaiser corporate parent operates Geisinger Scenery Park in Pennsylvania as an HOPD-classified facility where patient-owed amounts include facility fees. The billing classification of the site, not the corporate parent, determines 5-year cost. Representative case anchored to Caltech 2024 Kaiser SoCal Plan Chart.
- Billed by provider
- $0
- Paid by insurance
- $0
- Patient owed
- $0
Allergy immunotherapy, built for home — request your program quote.
Curex brings allergy shot care into your home. The listed SCIT self-pay plan rate is not an all-in care estimate. Confirm additional charges, insurance responsibility for testing and consultations, and billing cadence before enrolling.
Or $1,290/year for the annual plan. Commercial terms dated 2026-10-12; consultations included without copay. Total care quote required; confirm availability, testing, initiation, supplies and any in-person care. Plan rates and terms
- Personalized serum compounded to USP <797> sterile standards
- Weekly subcutaneous injection you give yourself at home
- Your first injection and every dose change supervised live over video
- Board-certified allergist oversight by telehealth
- A prescribed epinephrine auto-injector confirmed on hand before your first dose
- 1A board-certified allergist designs your plan
You complete testing, then an allergist builds your personalized immunotherapy prescription — the same subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) science used in clinics for decades.
- 2Your first injection is supervised live over video
You give your first dose at home on a live video visit, and every time your dose steps up it is re-supervised — so you are never escalating alone.
- 3You continue weekly at home
Serum arrives on a schedule, you self-inject on your own time, and your allergist keeps oversight by telehealth. No commute, no waiting room.
Before your first dose, Curex confirms you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector on hand. Doses escalate gradually, week by week, with a board-certified allergist overseeing your progress throughout.
Same proven science — a very different bill.
Conventional clinic shots and Curex are both subcutaneous immunotherapy. The difference is where you do it, how you pay, and what it costs you in time and surprises.
Honest take: the listed SCIT plan rate is not an all-in medical bill. Compare your actual clinic copays and deductible with a complete Curex care estimate, including separately billed services. Lower total costs or savings cannot be promised. See Curex plan rates and additional charges.
Estimate your in-office allergy shot costs.
Estimate the 3-year in-office cost of visits, copays, travel and time. Compare your estimate with actual coverage and a current at-home shot program quote.
Estimate your in-office allergy shot costs
Based on real CPT 95115 / 95117 / 95165 billing data, not generic price ranges.
- Medical & insurance
- $3,477
- Time at clinic (122 hr)
- $3,050
- Travel & gas
- $307
Curex at-home allergy shots
Total care estimate required
The Environmental Allergy Shots Plan lists $129/month or $1,290/year, commercial terms dated 2026-10-12, with consultations included and no consultation copay. These are plan rates, not all-in care totals. Confirm testing, initiation, supplies, in-person care and other charges in a written quote. This calculator does not estimate Curex totals or savings; compare your clinic estimate with the complete quote and actual insurance responsibility.
Confirmed Curex pricing and termsTime at clinic valued at $25/hr opportunity cost (national median wage). Direct medical costs from CMS Physician Fee Schedule + commercial payer data. Travel at $0.21/mi (gas + wear).
Frequently asked questions
Are these allergy shots for cats or for humans allergic to cats?
This page covers allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy, SCIT) given to HUMANS who are allergic to cats — meaning the human's IgE immune system reacts to cat proteins such as Fel d 1. This is entirely different from any veterinary products prescribed by veterinarians to treat skin disease or allergies in cats themselves. Veterinary cat allergy treatments are billed to pet insurance and have no connection to human allergy CPT codes. If you are looking for products to treat your cat's allergy, you are in the wrong place. This page is specifically about the 3-year and 5-year total cost commitment for human cat-allergy immunotherapy, across every major US insurance scenario.
What is the total cost of cat allergy shots over 3 years?
The 3-year total cost of cat SCIT depends on your insurance. At Kaiser HMO or Tricare Prime at an MTF: $0 over 3 years. At Original Medicare with Medigap: $0 after the annual Part B deductible. At Original Medicare without Medigap: approximately $272 in 20% coinsurance (based on $1,358 Medicare-allowed over 3 years — 67 visits at $11.97 plus 4 vial preps at $139.10 each per CY 2025 PFS, FR Doc 2024-25382). At commercial PPO with $20 flat copay: approximately $1,340 over 3 years (67 visits × $20), consistent with Stachler AAOA 2020's '$20 × 52 weeks × 3 years: $3,120 minimum' which assumes more aggressive visit frequency. At HDHP: $2,500–$5,000 over 3 years depending on deductible resets. Cash retail at freestanding offices: $4,000–$9,000 over 3 years.
What is the total cost of cat allergy shots over 5 years?
A 5-year cat SCIT course follows approximately 95 total visits: 39 in Year 1 (build-up phase) plus 14 per year in Years 2–5 per Cox 2011 PP3 (JACI 2011;127[1 Suppl]:S1-S55, DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.09.034). At 2025 Medicare-allowed rates: 95 × $11.97 (95117) = $1,137.15 plus 6 vial preps × 10 doses × $13.91 = $834.60, totaling approximately $1,972 Medicare-allowed over 5 years. The patient owes 20% coinsurance ($394) with deductible met; Medigap = $0. At commercial PPO post-deductible $15–$40 copay: $1,425–$3,800 over 5 years. At HDHP: $2,500–$5,000. Cash retail at freestanding practices: $5,000–$12,500. At HOPD: $25,000+ if testing is HOPD-billed.
Why do cat allergy shots have the strongest evidence of any pet SCIT?
Cat SCIT benefits from three converging advantages absent in other companion-animal immunotherapy. First, cat-hair and cat-pelt extracts are the ONLY FDA-standardized mammalian allergens in the US, approved at 10,000 BAU/mL under Greer license #308 — meaning each dose delivers a verified, reproducible allergen load. Second, Fel d 1 (the major cat allergen, a 35–38 kDa secretoglobin) sensitizes 90–96% of cat-allergic patients (Satyaraj et al., Allergy 2019), so a single standardized extract covers the dominant allergen in almost all patients. Third, the randomized controlled trial base is the largest for any companion-animal allergen: Alvarez-Cuesta 1994 JACI, Varney 1997 Clin Exp Allergy, Lent 2006 JACI, and Alvarez-Cuesta 2007 Allergy SLIT DBPC all demonstrate efficacy. Dog SCIT, by contrast, has non-standardized PNU-based extracts and a 2016 systematic review of 17 trials described results as 'poor and conflicting.'
Do hypoallergenic cat breeds reduce the lifetime cost of allergy shots?
No. Hypoallergenic cat breed claims lack rigorous peer-reviewed validation and should not be used as a basis for SCIT cost planning. Hairless Sphynx cats — commonly marketed as hypoallergenic — still produce Fel d 1 at meaningful levels (Hilger et al., PMC10975736, 2024). Fel d 1 is a secretoglobin produced in sebaceous and salivary glands, not in fur, so removing hair does not eliminate the primary allergen source. Bastien et al. (J Feline Med Surg 2019) documented 80-fold individual variation in salivary Fel d 1 between domestic shorthair cats — meaning your specific cat's allergen output matters more than its breed. Intact male cats do produce 3–5× more Fel d 1 than neutered males due to testosterone regulation (Kelly et al., JACI 2018: 5.15 μg/mL intact vs 0.013 neutered), so neutering your current cat may reduce Fel d 1 exposure and could affect the SCIT cost-benefit calculation.
What percentage of people who start cat allergy shots finish the full course?
The completion rate for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is concerning: Tkacz JP et al. (Curr Med Res Opin 2021;37(6):957-965, DOI 10.1080/03007995.2021.1903848) analyzed IBM MarketScan commercial claims data from 103,207 AIT patients between 2014 and 2017 and found that 23.9% never returned for their first injection after the index consultation. Across all patients, the 3-year treatment completion rate is substantially below 100%. This structural reality is important for lifetime-cost projections: the $3,120–$12,500+ five-year cost estimates above are aspirational — patients who drop out early absorb the Year 1 build-up cost (the most expensive year) without completing the full course that drives long-term clinical benefit. Before committing to a 3–5 year course, patients should discuss their schedule realities honestly with their allergist.
Can my HSA or FSA cover cat allergy shot costs?
Yes. Per IRS Publication 502, allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy for a diagnosed medical condition) qualify as deductible medical expenses under IRC §213(d). HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds can be used to pay for allergy testing, vial preparation, and injection visit copays. The IRS medical mileage rate is $0.21/mile (Notice 2025-5) for travel to the allergist, also FSA/HSA eligible. Veterinary products — such as any products prescribed for your cat's health — are not eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement under IRS rules. If you have an HDHP with an HSA, pre-funding the HSA before your SCIT build-up phase begins is a practical cost-management strategy: you can use pre-tax dollars to pay the pre-deductible claims during the high-frequency Year 1 build-up.
How does the HOPD billing risk affect cat allergy shot lifetime costs?
Hospital outpatient department (HOPD) classification is the single largest driver of SCIT lifetime cost variance. At a freestanding allergist office, a 5-year cat SCIT course may cost $5,000–$12,500 cash retail. At an HOPD, the initial skin-testing panel alone can exceed that figure in a single visit — the documented worst case is Janet Winston's $48,329 testing bill at Stanford Health Care (KFF Health News/NPR, 2018) where patient-owed was $3,103 in a single episode, and Kaitlin Johnson's $24,400 panel at M Health Fairview Minneapolis (PBS NewsHour Weekend, 2024) where patient-owed was $5,400+ before the balance was waived. Before scheduling your first allergy appointment, ask the practice: 'Is this clinic classified as a hospital outpatient department?' and 'Will I receive a separate facility fee?' Get the answer in writing. Colorado HB23-1215 and Connecticut HB 6669 restrict certain HOPD facility fees — verify if your state has similar protections.
Board-certified allergist and Chief Medical Officer at Curex. 15+ years treating cat-sensitized patients with SCIT and at-home immunotherapy protocols across 3-year and 5-year treatment courses.
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Read moreSkip the surprise bills. Confirm your program quote.
Curex lists an SCIT Self Pay Plan rate, but it is not an all-in care estimate. Confirm additional charges, quote inclusions and your insurance responsibility for testing and consultations before enrolling. See current Curex plan rates and terms.
Total care quote required · Remaining payments for shipped treatment are collected on cancellation
Questions about Curex itself?
Straight answers about the company, the evidence, what patients report, and what it costs — including the parts that are not flattering.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or insurance advice. Cost figures are estimates based on public CMS/MGMA data and commercial payer ranges; actual prices vary by plan, region, and provider. Always verify coverage with your insurer and consult a qualified healthcare provider. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.