Before deciding on going to an urgent care facility it is best to understand the pricing. Here are 5 things to know about urgent care costs.
Why do people ever choose Urgent Care clinics over emergency rooms (ER)? Beyond their convenience, urgent care costs tend to be dramatically lower than emergency room bills.
To help you understand these costs and learn the appropriate time for an emergency room, we’ve put together a quick rundown below.
Keep reading to educate yourself and ultimately save time, money, and an unnecessary headache while receiving medical help.
Urgent Care vs Emergency Room
While both types of medical services are usually open 24/7, there is a better time and place for each one.
For example, an Urgent Care clinic is meant to be your neighborhood help treating most ailments that aren’t life-threatening.
Quality, local Urgent Care clinics, such as Med Now in GA, will be equipped to address a range of injuries or illnesses that don’t require invasive procedures.
You should seek out the help of an Urgent Care professional for symptoms such as:
- Minor Burns
- Infection
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin Rash
- Sprain
- Cold or Flu Symptoms
Alternatively, you should seek out help from an emergency room if you face anything life-threatening or only treatable by a specialist.
Any procedure that requires surgery, extreme pain control or immediate treatment should be brought to the more-equipped ER staff.
Special care or treatment, such as the following symptoms require, should be addressed at your nearest emergency room:
- Head Trauma
- Excessive Bleeding
- Seizure
- Intense Burns
- Bone Fractures or Breaks
- Severe Chest Pain
Urgent Care Costs You Should Understand
If ever you’re under the impression that an Urgent Care is what you need, you should know a few things about what it’ll cost you. Consider these five topics next time you visit:
1. Is the Urgent Care Actually an Urgent Care?
Sometimes emergency rooms and hospitals will have satellite offices. Here, patients pay a rate for specialty work, and the bills tend to be much higher. Verify before you head in that the clinic is actually a part of the Urgent Care group.
2. Does Your Insurance Plan Come With a Copay?
Copays can save the day when it comes to medical expenses. It’s a good idea to know whether your insurance offers copay, ultimately determining how much of the bill you have to foot yourself.
Certain insurances might require $20 copay for an urgent care visit while others ask $100 or more. Knowing how much money to have in hand will only save you trouble during an already stressful time.
3. What’s Your Insurance Deductible?
The deductible is the amount you’ll have to pay for medical expenses before insurance will cover any of the costs.
If you haven’t met your annual deductible, know how much you have left and whether or not a steep bill such as an hour in the ER will help get you there.
4. Is Your Urgent Care in or out of Network?
Clinics in your network are sure to be cheaper than those outside of it. Check with your insurance and print out or save a copy of all nearby accepted locations.
5. What’s Your Plan’s Coinsurance?
Coinsurance can make or break your experience: Coinsurance is what you’re expected to pay regardless if the deductible has been met or not. It’s a number usually expressed in a percentage (as in, you pay 20%, insurance pays 80%).
Understanding your cost upfront with your insurance company will save you a lot of time and hassle.
Professional Advice at Healthy B Daily
Don’t pay an arm and a leg for your medical expenses at an ER if convenient Urgent Care costs will get the job done. Also, get to know your insurance plan and all the fine print when it comes to medical expenses.
Looking for more insightful resources and life hacks from the professionals? Head over to the Healthy B Daily blog and check out more of our insider articles!
