The decision to go to urgent care or the emergency room should be based on your symptoms and the nature of your illness or injury. Another factor to consider is the proximity of an urgent care facility to your home or work. A visit to the emergency room should be reserved for life-threatening illnesses or injuries that require immediate care and treatment. An emergency room visit is quite costly and can also be lengthy depending on how busy they are and the extent of other patients’ cases. Urgent care centers can handle non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries that require prompt treatment within 24 hours, as well as cases that could be treated by a primary care physician. If you do go to an urgent care center for an ailment that the doctors deem an emergency, requiring emergency room care, they will transfer you to the emergency room of a hospital for additional care and treatment.

Insurance coverage of urgent care visits will be dependent on your individual insurance company and coverage plan. While most insurance companies will cover a visit to an urgent care center, they may require you to pay a deductible or a co-payment fee at the time of your visit. If you are unsure what your insurance covers, it is best to thoroughly check your policy for coverage or call your insurance agent for clarification on coverage, deductibles, co-payment options, and any other factors you need to be aware of. Your insurance company can also let you know what amount you may need to pay for your deductible or co-pay depending on the nature of your visit to the urgent care facility. You can check with the urgent care center as well to find out what insurance they will accept prior to visiting.

It can be confusing to know when you should go to urgent care or emergency, or when you can be treated by your family doctor. Emergency rooms will not turn away urgent care cases however they will be placed lower in the order of being seen to ensure true emergency cases can be dealt with immediately. Urgent care provides a quick, convenient alternative to individuals with symptoms that require care within 24 hours. They are able to diagnose and provide treatment on-site for many illnesses and injuries related to fever, severe sore throat or cough, cuts requiring stitches, minor fractures and broken bones, sprains and strains, urinary tract infections, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and many other medical concerns. Urgent care can also be used for care outside of your primary physician’s office hours, such as on the weekend or in the evening.

Both urgent care and your primary doctor are less expensive than a visit to the emergency room. Your doctor may be the cheapest option as they will have your insurance on file, and you will know from previous appointments what the cost will be for a routine visit. However, you may not always be able to get to your family doctor when you require urgent medical attention. Urgent care centers often have higher overhead costs, so their fees are generally higher than a primary care doctor. However, many urgent care centers do now accept most patients’ insurance, making them not only a convenient option for individuals needing medical attention but also an affordable option. To truly understand the cost implications of a visit to your family doctor compared to an urgent care center, you will need to review your insurance plan coverage or reach out to your insurance agent for clarification.

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