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; plus a copay for each video consultation,or $149/month self-pay with consultations included. 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; plus a copay for each video consultation, or $149/month self-pay with consultations included. 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, plus a plan-dependent copay for each video consultation, or $149/month self-pay with consultations included. 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.
How much do allergy shots for cat allergy cost in total?
Total cost depends heavily on your insurance and the length of the course. At Kaiser HMO or Tricare Prime at an MTF, 3-year cost can be $0. At Original Medicare with Medigap, cost is typically $0 after the annual Part B deductible; without Medigap, expect a modest coinsurance share. At a commercial PPO with a flat copay, 3-year cost is commonly in the low thousands of dollars. At an HDHP, expect several thousand dollars depending on deductible resets. Cash retail at a freestanding allergist office runs higher still. Ask your specific plan or the allergist's billing office for your exact figure.
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: a modest coinsurance share based on the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. At commercial PPO with a flat copay: roughly $1,000-$1,500 over 3 years, consistent with published estimates of several thousand dollars at more aggressive visit frequencies. 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 roughly 14 per year in Years 2-5, per the Cox 2011 Practice Parameter Third Update (JACI 2011). At Medicare-allowed rates, the patient's coinsurance share over 5 years is typically a few hundred dollars with the deductible met; with Medigap, it's commonly $0. At a commercial PPO with a post-deductible copay, expect roughly $1,400-$3,800 over 5 years. At an HDHP, $2,500-$5,000. Cash retail at freestanding practices runs $5,000-$12,500. At a hospital outpatient department (HOPD), costs can run dramatically higher 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 under a specific Greer license — meaning each dose delivers a verified, reproducible allergen load. Second, Fel d 1 (the major cat allergen, a 35-38 kDa secretoglobin) sensitizes the large majority 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?
The completion rate for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is concerning: Tkacz JP et al. (Curr Med Res Opin 2021;37(6):957-965) analyzed IBM MarketScan claims data from over 100,000 AIT patients and found that nearly a quarter never returned for their first injection after the index consultation. The 3-year completion rate across all patients is substantially below 100%. This matters for lifetime-cost projections: patients who drop out early absorb the expensive Year 1 build-up cost without completing the course that drives long-term clinical benefit. Discuss your schedule realities honestly with your allergist before committing to a 3-5 year course.
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) analyzed IBM MarketScan commercial claims data from over 100,000 AIT patients between 2014 and 2017 and found that nearly a quarter 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: 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. Mileage to the allergist can also be FSA/HSA eligible at the IRS medical mileage rate. 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.
How does HOPD billing risk affect cat allergy shot lifetime costs?
Hospital outpatient department (HOPD) classification is one of the largest drivers 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 — documented cases have involved testing bills in the tens of thousands of dollars, with patients still owing thousands out of pocket. Before scheduling your first allergy appointment, ask the practice directly: 'Is this clinic classified as a hospital outpatient department?' and 'Will I receive a separate facility fee?' Get the answer in writing. Some states restrict certain HOPD facility fees, so check whether yours offers that protection.
Can I get at-home allergy treatment for cat allergy instead of in-office shots?
Yes. Curex offers at-home SCIT (allergy shots) for cat allergy, with a telehealth consultation, an at-home allergy test, and personalized serum shipped to your door — your first injection from each new vial is supervised live in the Virtual Shot Room. Pricing is confirmed in a current program quote based on your specific situation, and the at-home model eliminates the weekly office-visit burden described above during the build-up phase.
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 moreCurious what at-home cat-allergy shots would cost you?
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.