How Much Do Cat Allergy Shots Cost? A Payer-by-Payer Breakdown
Cat allergy shots for HUMANS cost $0 to $5,400+ per visit depending on insurance — this page covers human immunotherapy for cat allergy, not veterinary products. Medicare-allowed CPT 95117 is $11.97 (CY 2025 PFS, FR Doc 2024-25382); commercial allows $15–$18; cash $40–$200. Before committing to 39 build-up visits, Curex pairs at-home IgE testing with allergist review to confirm Fel d 1 vs Fel d 4 sensitization.
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 — the per-visit workhorse code for cat SCIT; 2025 Medicare allowed $11.97; commercial allowed $15.10–$18.05; cash retail $40–$200 freestanding; HOPD billed $200–$2,000+ 2025 Medicare allowed $11.97 (CY 2025 PFS Final Rule, FR Doc 2024-25382). Commercial allowed: BCBS $16.69, Aetna $15.98, UHC $15.10, Cigna $18.05 (PayerPrice national averages, April 2026). HOPD billed amounts 10–40× higher. Most common code on a cat SCIT shot day. | Cash pay $40–$200 | Insured $5–$40 |
| 95165 | Multi-dose vial preparation, per 1-cc dose — CMS Article A57472: 1 dose = 1 cc; max 10 doses per 10-cc vial; 30-unit MUE/day; 12-month supply cap; 2025 Medicare allowed $13.91/dose; 10-dose vial = $139.10 Medicare allowed Cat-hair and cat-pelt extracts are FDA-standardized at 10,000 BAU/mL (Greer license #308) — the only mammalian allergens with FDA standardization. Commercial allowed approximately $260–$420 per 10-dose vial (2× Medicare). HOPD 10-dose vial billed $1,000+. 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 the patient receives only one vial per visit; sometimes used for cat-monosensitized patients on a simple single-vial protocol 2025 Medicare allowed $10.35. Less common than 95117 for cat SCIT in practice. Commercial allowed approximately $13–$16. | Cash pay $18–$35 | Insured $3–$15 |
| 95004 | Percutaneous (skin prick) test, per allergen — initial diagnostic; 40-allergen environmental panel generates 40 separately billable units at Medicare-allowed $3.56 each = $142.40 Medicare allowed total 2025 Medicare allowed $3.56/allergen. HOPD worst case for 40 allergens: $24,400 billed (Kaitlin Johnson / M Health Fairview MN, 2024, PBS NewsHour Weekend). HOPD per-allergen effective billed rate: $610 — 171× Medicare-allowed. Freestanding clinics: $800–$1,827 for the same 40-allergen panel. | Cash pay $20–$40 | Insured $3–$10 |
| 95144 | Single-dose vial preparation, non-venom — rarely used for cat SCIT in routine clinical practice; multi-dose vial (95165) 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
40-allergen environmental panel including feline dander at a hospital-owned allergy clinic in Minneapolis, 2024. The HOPD facility fee drove the bill to $24,400 total — while surrounding freestanding clinics quoted $800–$1,827 for the same panel. Kaitlin Johnson owed $5,400+ before M Health Fairview waived the balance after PBS NewsHour Weekend coverage ('Why patients are getting hit with surprise hospital fees for routine medical care,' 2024). At a Medicare-allowed rate of $3.56 per allergen (CPT 95004, 2025 PFS), 40 allergens should allow $142.40 — the HOPD bill was 172× that.
- 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.' Kaiser's closed-network HMO model means there is no traditional EOB — care is internal and cost-share is $0 for enrolled members. This is the direct opposite end of the cost spectrum from the HOPD scenario in Case 14. Trade-off: care is confined to Kaiser allergists; no outside provider option. Representative case anchored to Caltech 2024 Kaiser SoCal Plan Chart.
- Billed by provider
- $0
- Paid by insurance
- $0
- Patient owed
- $0
EOB image redacted
Maintenance visit plus a new 10-dose vial preparation at a freestanding Illinois allergist office for a UnitedHealthcare PPO patient, same day. CPT 95117 × 1 plus CPT 95165 × 10 doses. UHC's PayerPrice national average for 95117 is $15.10. Total billed $565, allowed $186.10, UHC paid $146.10, patient owed $40 in stacked copays. Many plans waive the second copay when injection and vial-prep are billed the same day — verify your plan's Summary of Benefits before scheduling. Representative case anchored to PayerPrice UHC 95117 national average and Stachler AAOA 2020 stacked-copay pattern.
- Billed by provider
- $565
- Paid by insurance
- $146
- Patient owed
- $40
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
Is this page about allergy shots for my cat or for my allergy to cats?
This page is entirely about allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy, or SCIT) given to HUMANS who are allergic to cats — not about veterinary products given to cats. If you searched for treatment for your cat's skin allergy, Apoquel, or oclacitinib-class drugs prescribed by a veterinarian, you are in the wrong place. Veterinary products for feline atopic dermatitis are a separate category, billed to pet insurance or paid as pet expenses, and have nothing to do with human allergy CPT codes 95117, 95165, or 95004. This page covers the HUMAN billing breakdown for IgE-mediated cat allergy immunotherapy, including what your insurance plan will pay and what you will owe out of pocket per visit and per year.
How much do cat allergy shots cost per visit with Medicare?
With Original Medicare Part B and the 2025 annual deductible of $257 met, a maintenance visit for CPT 95117 (injection only) carries a Medicare-allowed amount of $11.97 (CY 2025 PFS, FR Doc 2024-25382); the patient owes 20% coinsurance, or approximately $2.39. On a day when a 10-dose vial is also prepared (CPT 95165 × 10 doses at $13.91/dose = $139.10), the combined allowed is $151.07 and the patient owes $30.21. Annually, a maintenance year of 14 visits averages approximately $61 in 20% coinsurance (no vial-prep visits counted separately). A Medigap supplemental policy eliminates the 20% coinsurance entirely, making every visit $0 after the deductible. The 2026 Part B deductible rises to $283 (CMS announcement November 14, 2025).
What does a full Year 1 of cat allergy shots cost?
Year 1 includes approximately 39 visits — 26 weekly build-up visits plus 13 early maintenance — per Cox 2011 PP3 (JACI 2011;127[1 Suppl]:S1-S55). At 2025 Medicare-allowed rates: 39 × $11.97 (95117) = $466.83 plus two vial preparations (20 doses × $13.91) = $278.20, totaling approximately $745 Medicare-allowed. The patient owes 20% = $149 after the $257 deductible (Medigap = $0). For commercial PPO post-deductible patients, Year 1 patient cost is approximately $300–$900 in stacked copays ($15–$40 × 39 visits). For HDHP enrollees, Year 1 can run $1,500–$3,000 depending on when the deductible resets. Cash retail at freestanding offices: $2,000–$4,500. At an HOPD: $5,000–$24,000+ for testing alone.
What is the cheapest way to get cat allergy shots?
The lowest out-of-pocket cost for cat SCIT is achieved through Kaiser Permanente HMO ($0/visit per Caltech 2024 Kaiser SoCal Plan Chart), Tricare Prime at a military treatment facility ($0/visit per TPM15 Ch. 7 §14.1), or Original Medicare Part B with a Medigap supplemental policy ($0/visit after the annual $257 deductible). For patients without those plans, the cost-minimizing strategies are: (1) confirm the allergist practice is freestanding, not an HOPD — the HOPD facility fee is the single largest cost driver; (2) if on an HDHP, schedule the build-up phase start in January so the deductible is met early in the calendar year; (3) apply HSA or FSA funds, which the IRS designates as qualifying medical expenses under IRC §213(d) per IRS Publication 502.
Does Medi-Cal cover cat allergy shots?
Partially. California Medi-Cal covers the injection code CPT 95117 but explicitly excludes the antigen preparation codes CPT 95120 through 95134 and CPT 95145 through 95165 as non-benefits under the DHCS Medi-Cal Allergy Manual Part 2 (Allergy Testing and Desensitization). This means a Medi-Cal beneficiary can receive the shot itself, but the antigen (the cat-hair extract vial) must be supplied by another means or absorbed by the practice. In practical terms, many California allergist offices decline to take Medi-Cal SCIT patients specifically because of this exclusion. Patients who are enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care (Covered California Medi-Cal expansion) should verify with the specific health plan and allergist before scheduling.
Why does Year 1 cost so much more than Year 2+ of cat allergy shots?
Year 1 is more expensive for three reasons. First, the build-up phase requires approximately 26 weekly visits versus only 14 per year in maintenance — nearly double the visit frequency. Second, the initial skin-test panel (CPT 95004 per allergen) is performed in Year 1, adding a diagnostic cost of $140–$400+ per 40-allergen panel at allowed rates. Third, for HDHP enrollees, Year 1 is when the annual deductible is first burned through, creating pre-deductible exposure on the earliest visits when frequency is highest. Stachler et al. (AAOA, December 2, 2020) documented this burden: the minimum 3-year OOP projection is $3,120 at $20/visit weekly. Once in maintenance, the 14-visit annual frequency makes each year materially cheaper — typically $140–$560/year in copays for most commercial plans.
Does the FDA standardization of cat extract affect my cost?
FDA standardization affects clinical predictability but not the Medicare allowed amount. Both FDA-standardized cat extracts (cat-hair and cat-pelt at 10,000 BAU/mL, Greer license #308) and non-standardized allergens bill under the same CPT codes (95165, 95117) at the same 2025 Medicare-allowed rates of $13.91/dose and $11.97/visit. The practical cost difference is indirect: because FDA-standardized cat-hair extract has verified lot-to-lot consistency, patients are more likely to progress through the build-up protocol on schedule — fewer unexpected dose adjustments, fewer extra visits, and a more predictable timeline to maintenance. The 2016 Annals of Allergy review of dog SCIT noted 'poor and conflicting results' attributed partly to extract variability; cat SCIT's FDA-standardized extract removes that variable. Same per-dose Medicare rate, structurally lower probability of cost-inflating extra visits.
Are sublingual allergy drops for cat allergy covered by insurance?
Sublingual allergy drops (SLIT) for cat allergy are not typically covered by US commercial insurance or Medicare Part B. The major commercial carriers — BCBS, Aetna, UHC, Cigna — generally classify SLIT as investigational or non-covered under their medical policies, citing lack of FDA approval for sublingual allergen extracts in the United States (unlike injectable SCIT extracts, which are FDA-licensed). Tricare, Medicaid, and Medicare Part B similarly do not cover SLIT. Patients who use sublingual immunotherapy pay out of pocket. This is a meaningful distinction from cat SCIT (subcutaneous injections), which is universally covered by US insurance when prescribed for a medically necessary indication per CMS LCD L36240.
Board-certified allergist and Chief Medical Officer, 15+ years treating cat-sensitized patients. Prescribes Curex's at-home allergy shots with pricing confirmed in a current program quote, with no in-clinic injections and no HOPD facility-fee risk.
Related Articles
How Much Do Weekly Allergy Shots Cost – Build-Up Guide 2026
26 weekly build-up visits × $11.97 Medicare-allowed = $311. Copays stack to $1,092; add $928 lost-time cost. CY 2025 PFS-verified. HOPD risk explained.
Read moreHow Much Are Allergy Shots For Cats – Complete Guide
Cat allergy shots for HUMANS: $0–$12,500 over 5 years depending on plan. Curex at-home shots offer pricing confirmed in a current program quote. CY 2025 PFS data.
Read moreAllergy Shots for Cat Allergy | Full SCIT Guide | Curex
Allergy shots for cat allergies reduce symptoms 60-72% at the 15 mcg Fel d 1 maintenance dose. Cat SCIT efficacy, dosing, and alternatives.
Read moreAllergy Shots for Humans Allergic to Dogs Cost – Complete Guide
HUMAN allergy shots for dog allergy: Medicare $11.97/visit; commercial $15–$18; cash $40+. Not CYTOPOINT. Stanford $48,329 HOPD warning. CY 2025 PFS data.
Read moreCat Allergy Shot Cost – Complete Guide to SCIT Pricing
Cat allergy shots for HUMANS: Medicare $11.97/visit; commercial $15–$18; cash $40+. Or skip clinic copays with Curex at-home shots, program-specific pricing confirmed by quote.
Read moreHow Effective Are Allergy Shots? Full SCIT Guide | Curex
How effective are allergy shots? SCIT reduces symptoms 33-85% in Cochrane meta-analyses. NNT=3. Full evidence review with success rates by allergen.
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.