Low-cost school physicals and vaccinations

This guest post comes from Julie Henry at Living on the Cheap.

The kids are heading back to school. You've already shelled out money for new clothes and school supplies. Now you need to come up with more for sports physicals and back-to-school vaccinations.

Here are some tips that might help you save on those expenses:

• If you're insured, start with your primary care provider. If sports physicals and vaccinations are included in the cost of a $10 or $20 co-pay, that may be your cheapest option. But make sure you call first and ask if your only out-of-pocket expense will be your co-pay or if there will be any additional charges. (Post continues below.)

• Concentra Urgent Care is offering sports physicals for about $35. You'll need to call your local center and ask for the exact price. Concentra also offers vaccinations, so if your child also needs shots, ask about that price while you have Concentra on the line. The provider also accepts most types of insurance.
• The Walgreens Take Care Clinics are offering back-to-school sports physicals for $39 through Sept. 30. The clinics also offer vaccinations, so it doesn't hurt to ask about cost. The Take Care Clinics also accept most types of insurance.
• The CVS Minute Clinics are offering a $10 discount on sports physicals through Sept. 30, which reduces the price from $59 to $49. The Minute Clinics accept most types of insurance; however, they do not accept insurance for sports physicals. The Minute Clinics also offer vaccinations.
• Many city health departments run public health clinics that offer childhood vaccinations at low or no cost. To find your local department of health, do a search for "Department of Health (Your City Name)" such as Department of Health Kansas City, Mo.
• The federal Vaccines for Children program offers vaccinations at no cost for children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian or Native Alaskan. Vaccines are administered by private and public health care providers that are enrolled in the VFC program. If your child meets one of the above eligibility requirements, ask your doctor if he or she is a VFC provider. If not, contact your state's VFC coordinator to find out where to get your child vaccinated.

More from Living on the Cheap and MSN Money:

• Free and low-cost resources for homeschooling
• Best school supply deals Aug. 19-25
• Back to school: Save money on supplies
• School supplies for a penny
• What if you got hit by a bus?
• How does your back-to-school spending compare