Difference Between Urgent Care And The Emergency Room

When you have a medical emergency, it can be difficult to understand where you need to go and for what.

Not only do you need to think about how you can be treated quicker, but also without being too expensive.

However, you don’t want to go to the wrong area depending on whether your situation is life-threatening. If you want to know your best choice, we recommend you keep reading.

When You Should Go To Urgent Care

If you have an illness or injury that is not life-threatening, you could visit the urgent care center.

Instead of scheduling an appointment with your doctor, if you feel as though you need urgent medical attention, it is better to visit here.

Urgent care centers can handle a variety of injuries and illnesses, so you can visit one if you need urgent care. 

Most urgent care centers will be open for extended hours, so if you feel unwell and your regular doctor’s office is closed, you can still go and get treatment.

They are also known for being more affordable than if you visited the emergency room.

Here are a few reasons you may visit urgent care: 

• Pain in Abdomen
• Acid Reflux
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Broken Bone
• Cold and Flu
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Ear Infection
• Eye Infections
• Fever
• Injuries in the Workplace
• Minor Burns
• Minor Injuries
• Nausea
• Pink Eye
• Pneumonia
• Physical Exams
• Vaccines
• Pulled Muscles
• Rashes
• Skin Disorders
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Sinus Infections
• Sore Throat
• Strep Throat
• Tendonitis
• Repetitive Use Injuries
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Vomiting

When You Should Go To The Emergency Room

If you’re worried about a life-threatening situation, you should visit the emergency room. An emergency room is equipped to handle these situations and is best for emergencies only.

You shouldn’t go to an emergency room unless there is a greater risk to your life. Go to the emergency room if you experience these symptoms: 

• Concussions
• Chest Pain
• Head Injuries
• Loss of Consciousness
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Sudden, Severe Headaches
• Uncontrollable Bleeding

Why You Should Go To Urgent Care

You should go to urgent care if you need to see a doctor, but it’s not a life-threatening emergency.

You don’t have to make an appointment first, and when you walk in, you might only have to wait for less than half an hour to be seen. Many patients arrive and leave within an hour, all at an affordable price.

The majority of urgent care centers will accept insurance from most major providers.

They are often in convenient locations, often by shopping centers and commercial plazas, if you want quick treatment when you can’t arrange a doctor’s appointment with your primary care provider.

Most urgent care centers are also open from 9 AM until 8 PM, with a 4 PM or 5 PM on the weekends when most doctor’s offices are already closed.

They already have all the equipment they need to treat any injuries. If you need an X-ray, blood work, or other lab services, you can be assured that an urgent care center will handle everything. 

Why You Should Go To The Emergency Room

The emergency room is open 24/7. However, it is more expensive to go there. If you have a life-threatening illness or emergency, it’s better to visit.

However, we would also recommend that you visit the emergency room if you are significantly concerned for a young child’s health.

Many toddlers and babies can benefit from going to the ER; if they are injured or ill, they may get worse. 

However, because of the severity of cases in emergency rooms, they can have a longer wait time as each case is judged on how severe it is.

If you don’t have an emergency, you could wait hours until you are seen. Therefore, if you don’t have a life-threatening wound or illness, you should go to urgent care to ensure you are treated quickly. 

What Is The Difference Between Urgent Care And The ER?

The difference between urgent care and the emergency room lies in the severity of the injuries and illnesses they treat.

The emergency room is for when you are worried that your life is at risk. At the same time, an urgent care center can treat any illness or injury when you can’t access a doctor.

However, because of the importance of an emergency room, they are more expensive as they deal with more significant cases.

Going to an emergency room should only be done when you need to go. Urgent care centers offer more flexibility, allowing you to see a medical professional without worrying about making an appointment first.

Can You Go To An Urgent Care Center Without Insurance?

You can go to an urgent care center without insurance. However, they can turn you away if you can’t pay your medical costs. Urgent care centers are only more affordable if you have insurance.

Hospitals don’t own urgent care centers, so the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act doesn’t bind them. If you visit one, you must pay when you receive your service. 

Can You Go To The Emergency Room Without Insurance?

Hospitals have a legal obligation to treat a patient even if they don’t have insurance. However, you shouldn’t confuse this with receiving free treatment.

Due to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, all members of the public who go to the emergency room of any hospital must be treated and stabilized.

It doesn’t matter whether they can pay for their insurance or not. 

Most hospitals are covered by Medicare, which will cover 80% of the cost of your treatment. However, patients are still responsible for 20% of their treatment costs.

Some patients may get supplementary insurance to cover their costs. Hospitals must subsidize the cost of uncompensated care if you don’t have insurance.

They often do this by raising the prices for any patients with insurance. However, they may also get funding from federal and local groups.

Despite this, uninsured patients will still have charges, so hospitals can reclaim a portion of the bill. Hospitals often turn medical bills to collection agencies to reclaim expenses from their uninsured patients.

Final Thoughts

When you go to an urgent care center or an emergency room, you should always consider the severity of your illness or injury before you go.

If you don’t have insurance, both options can be expensive. However, if you have a life-threatening problem, you should go to the emergency room.

Urgent care centers are more accessible for those who need to see a doctor but cannot arrange an appointment with their primary care provider.

Frequently Asked Questions